MACT Update

ABMA – American Boiler Manufacturers Association

E-Tech has, for the past two years, had the good fortune to be a member of the ABMA.  From its website, the Association proclaims, “these pages are designed to not only serve the membership of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association -- the best of the boiler industry! -- they are intended, as well, to inform the public about the boiler and combustion equipment industry, its interests, its concerns and its cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology.”

In my last blog, I gave an update on the boiler MACT and its potential impact on our industry.  The ABMA and its constituent members have had a vested interest in the promulgation of these regulations and, by extension, their implementation.  Having its location near Washington, D.C., the organization is in close contact with the decisions being made and the observance of the politics in trying to push this legislation through.  I needn’t remind anyone of the current fiasco in Washington.  I can say this without offending one side or another as most of us agree that the political standstill there is unhealthy to the future of our nation.  In his jobs creation speech, Obama stated that he was not going to let the economic crisis in our country ask our citizens to choose between their jobs and their safety while rolling back rules designed to protect our health.  These remarks indicate the Presidents backing of the November 16 deadline for the enforcement of MACT to limit boiler room emissions.

To that, on September 8, a top agency official told a congressional panel on September 8^TH that USEPA neither needs nor wants an additional 15 months to issue emissions standards for boilers and incinerators.  As you would expect, some members of Congress have objected to these issues to the point of wanting to get rid of the EPA.  It’s not the purpose of my blog to support or oppose this as I have sworn to be apolitical in these matters.  However, the stance of the ABMA in particular and by extension, its membership, is (and I quote from the ABMA president and CEO) that “blocking the ICI-BMACT rules impedes job-creation in the boiler, combustion equipment and emissions controls industry!” 

I suspect that those of us in our lines of business, whether it be mechanical contractors, manufacturers’ representatives, consulting engineers and the like have a vested interest in seeing this move forward.  The House is expected to vote on the package of bills the week of October 3^rd. 

For those interested in looking into the great work done by the ABMA, follow this link: ABMA Site

 Last, I have been admonished for not having included in last week’s blog my usual closing words of wisdom so I offer two from Thomas Jefferson. 

The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.