01.09.24

Hoeven: North Dakota Proves Time and Again That State-Led Regulation is the Right Approach for our Nation

Senator Applauds Decision Allowing North Dakota’s Intervention in Environmentalist Lawsuit, Working to Prevent Costly One-Size-Fits-All Mandates

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after a federal judge granted North Dakota’s motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club challenging State Implementation Plans for Regional Haze, including North Dakota’s, which were under consideration and pending approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As governor and as a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Hoeven has worked to ensure the agency’s approval of the state’s haze mitigation plan, which must be regularly updated with the EPA.

The senator previously secured approval of the North Dakota’s filing in 2015, blocking a challenge brought by environmentalist groups and preventing a costly one-size-fits-all plan from being imposed. The latest haze mitigation filing occurred in August 2022, which demonstrated that North Dakota was on track to surpass its air quality targets.

“Time and again, North Dakota has been rated as having some of the best air quality in the nation, which has been achieved through a state-led plan, not federal mandates,” said Hoeven. “That’s why we were able to secure prior approval by the EPA of North Dakota’s regional haze plan, which has been proven effective and is still on track to meet or exceed its emissions targets. Rather than celebrate this success, environmentalist groups are working to undermine our state’s authority and bolster Biden administration regulatory overreach. We welcome this decision to allow North Dakota to intervene in this lawsuit and will continue supporting the state’s efforts to preserve its cost-effective approach to regulation.”

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