Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court ruling on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics Standard.

“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander with this White House. With absolute disregard for the consequences, the Obama Administration continues to selectively apply the law in order to force through its controversial agenda. The EPA has similarly ignored obligations it has to consider the effects of other proposed Clean Air Act rules on endangered species.  Just as the Supreme Court ruled today that EPA cannot simply toss parts of the law that it dislikes, EPA also cannot throw away its consultation obligations, which are required under the Endangered Species Act, just because it’s inconvenient.  Today’s decision is an indictment of this Administration and its reckless abuse of power.” 

On June 15, 2015, Chairman Bishop requested information from the EPA on recent Clean Air Act rules for new and existing power plans concerning the agency’s apparent failure to initiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on the impacts on endangered species, as required by section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. The EPA, which was given until June 22, 2015 to respond to the inquiry, has yet to fully explain this omission.