## Cnongress nf t4e Unitrb .4ttttPs wtts4irtgtnn, UT 20515 The Honorable Gina McCarthy Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460 December 6, 2013 Dear Administrator McCarthy, As representatives of the Commonwealth at the state and federal levels, we are writing to request that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials visit Kentucky in order to hold public listening sessions regarding your agency's plans to issue standards or guidelines to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants. We are aware of your agency's September 30, 2013 announcement, entitled "EPA to Hold Public Listening Sessions on Reducing Carbon Pollution from Existing Power Plants," which demonstrates a willingness to consider public concerns ahead of the development of these rules. However, we are very surprised and disappointed to learn that all of the EPA's 11 announced sessions are to be held exclusively in major metropolitan areas. What is worse, not one of these cities is located within 

### any of the ten states most reliant on coal-fired electricity generation. As the nation's third largest producer of coal, Kentucky has long provided its residents and the nation with an affordable and dependable energy source. Coal provides 92 percent of Kentucky's electricity generation, and its availability and affordability have far-reaching implications for our manufacturing-driven economy, the coal industry, and family budgets — especially as Kentucky continues to be burdened by our nation's eleventh highest unemployment rate. Kentucky has already lost more than 6,200 coal jobs in just the last two years, reducing the state's coal employment to its lowest level since the Commonwealth began keeping statistics in 1927. Unfortunately, these job losses are forecast to continue to increase as additional EPA regulations targeting coal come online. Within its proposed rule for New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) regulating greenhouse gas emissions from new electric utilities, the EPA already predicts that no new coal plants will be built in the United States in the coming decade due to the regulatory environment. Extending greenhouse gas standards to existing utilities will have significant adverse implications for the nation's existing coal fleet and the affordability and reliability of electricity nationwide. Moreover, it is not clear how this staggering generation capacity — nearly 40 percent of our nation's electricity production — will be replaced. Job losses will not be limited to the coal fields and supporting industries, but will ripple across the country as higher energy costs stifle the nascent manufacturing renaissance in the United States, reducing our economic competitiveness.

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPERMEMBER-AF CONGRESS 

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RANDPAUL UNITED STATES SENATOR

Y BARR w ^^ 4TCH McCONNELL UNITED STATES SENATOR



## ^t zv l^v^.. HAROLD RO MEMBER OF CONGRESS Given the seriousness of these forecasts, it is crucial that EPA officials visit states like Kentucky — particularly their rural mining communities — to hear firsthand our constituents' concerns about the effects on employment and their household budgets before moving forward on a proposed rule. The EPA has demonstrated a willingness to hear from our constituents on important energy and environmental issues before. Last year, during vigorous public debate over EPA's objections to 36 Kentucky National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, the EPA had three public hearings in the Commonwealth — one in Frankfort and two in Pikeville, in the heart of Appalachian coal country. This was an important opportunity for our constituents to meet with federal regulators. Considering the far broader impacts associated with planned greenhouse gas regulations for existing power plants, we hope that this example of public outreach in our region can be repeated. Failure by the EPA to hold listening sessions on greenhouse gas regulations in those states with economies most dependent on the coal industry and coal-fired electricity will be perceived as an effort to avoid negative public opinion or ignore adverse economic impacts. For the sake of openness and transparency in the eyes of our fellow Kentuckians and the American people, we urge you to announce plans to visit Kentucky and other states similarly reliant on coal production and coal-fired electricity as you seek public comment on regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely,

ED WHITFIEL BRETT GUTHRIE MEMBER OF CONGRESS MEMBER OF CONGRESS

THOMAS MASSIE MEMBER OF CONGRESSr a
SENATOR ROBERT STIVERS PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

/ . SENATOR BRANDON SMITH SENATE MAJORITY WHIP KENTUCKY STATE SENATE 

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SENATOR DAMON THAYER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER KENTUCKY STATE SENATE

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REPRESENTATIVE JIM GOOCH CHAIR, HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ^ 

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SENATOR JARED CARPENTER CHAIR, SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES

COMMITTEE KENTUCKY STATE SENATE