Opinion ID: 1433888
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Feasibility of the Standard for Electric Power Plants

Text: EEI argues that OSHA failed to prove that the Cr(VI) standard is economically and technologically feasible for coal and nuclear electric utility power plants. First, EEI argues that OSHA failed to prove economic feasibility because it did not show that the costs of compliance would be reasonably related to the benefits to be derived from employee protection. This argument is predicated on a clear misstatement of law. EEI relies on a concurring opinion by Justice Powell in Industrial Union Department, AFL-CIO v. American Petroleum Institute, 448 U.S. 607, 100 S.Ct. 2844, 65 L.Ed.2d 1010 (1980), in which he argued for a proportionality requirement. Id. at 663, 100 S.Ct.2844. The Court squarely rejected Justice Powell's position the next year in American Textile Manufacturers Institute, Inc. v. Donovan, 452 U.S. 490, 101 S.Ct. 2478, 69 L.Ed.2d 185 (1981), after reasoning that a cost-benefit analysis on the issuance of § 6(b)(5) standards would eviscerate the `to the extent feasible' requirement. Id. at 513, 101 S.Ct. 2478. We therefore reject EEI's argument with regard to economic feasibility. [9] Second, EEI devotes just over a page in its brief to argue that OSHA made no findings regarding the technological feasibility of the Cr(VI) standard in electric power generation plants. However, the record demonstrates that, for the purposes of assessing feasibility, OSHA included electric utilities within the welding applications group. FEA at II-24. EEI points to no evidence indicating that welding in electric utilities differs substantially from welding generally, but, in its reply brief, EEI attacks the application group methodology generally. As we discussed above in considering HRG's similar argument, OSHA acted within its discretion to assess feasibility through use of application groups. We will therefore not disturb OSHA's findings with regard to the feasibility of the Cr(VI) standard in the electric utility industry.