Nov 09, 2001 IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries testified before a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight hearing on the impact the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) proposed metal products and machinery (MP&M) effluent limitations will have on the printed wiring board (PWB) industry.
IPC Director of Environmental Policy Fern Abrams' testimony outlined PWB manufacturers' concerns with the proposed regulation: The proposed limits are not achievable and EPA has underestimated the economic impact, while significantly overestimating the benefits.
"Environmental regulations must be based upon sound scientific and regulatory analysis so that they do not create unnecessary burdens while failing to achieve their goal of environmental protection," said Abrams.
On behalf of the IPC and other industries, Abrams urged EPA to demonstrate cost-effectiveness or withdraw the proposed regulation.
The proposed MP&M effluent guidelines regulate pollutants content in PWB facility wastewaters discharges. The proposed guidelines are stringent and will require extensive and costly process modifications in most PWB facilities.
For more information, contact Abrams at fabrams@ipc.org or 202-962-0460. For a copy of the testimony, go to http://www.ipc.org/html/fslegislative.htm.
IPC is a US-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its more than 2,800 member companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed wiring board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of a $44 billion US industry employing more than 400,000 people.
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