Crowell & Moring's Robert Meyers Testifies Before Congressional Committee on Energy & Power

Washington, D.C. – March 28, 2012: Crowell & Moring LLP senior counsel Robert Meyers testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Power in a hearing titled, "The American Energy Initiative," which focused on the legislative responses to rising gasoline prices. Meyers addressed the drafts of the Gasoline Regulations Act of 2012 and the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012.

The hearing focused on multiple regulatory requirements that will affect the U.S. petroleum refining industry over the next several years. These regulations have the potential to significantly impact the price of gasoline and diesel -- and the international competitiveness of domestic refiners. Meyers stated, "A combined analysis of the extensive regulatory requirements that is based on the best available data makes eminent sense from both a public policy and economic perspective."

In his testimony, Meyers, who previously served as acting head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office charged with implementation of the Clean Air Act (CAA), asserted that such analysis should be conducted in just over one year. Meyers indicated that since the draft legislation only affects final rules, in most cases, the analysis can be completed before the EPA is required to act. For example, new automobile standards and associated fuel standards are not planned to take effect for another five years.

Meyers also emphasized the limited nature of current EPA regulatory analysis and cited recent actions of the Obama Administration, which support a cumulative analysis approach to assessing regulatory burdens.

"The legislation is consistent with new regulatory guidance which requests agencies to look at how different regulations affecting one industrial sector can be better harmonized in order to increase the net benefit of regulation," Meyers stated.

Robert Meyers has more than three decades of experience in energy, utility, automobile, and agricultural issues, having previously led the Office of Air and Radiation of the EPA. Prior to his work at the agency, Meyers served as Deputy Chief Counsel for Energy and Environment. As an attorney inCrowell & Moring's Environment & Natural Resources Group, Meyers provides counseling, regulatory, and legislative representation for clients on issues such as the CAA and climate change.

Additional testimony at the hearing was received from: James Burkhard, managing director of Global Oil Group, IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates; Jackson Coleman, managing partner and general counsel, Energy North America, LLC; Matthew L. Smorch, vice president of strategy, Country Mark Cooperative, LLC; Niger Innis, co-chairman of Affordable Power Alliance and national spokesman for Congress on Racial Equality; Dr. Joseph Romm, senior fellow, Center for American Progress, and Dr. George R. Schink, managing director and principal, Navigant Economics on behalf of the Emissions Control Technology Association.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels. Visit Crowell & Moring online at www.crowell.com.

Primary Contact:        
Stephanie Holtzman
sholtzman@jaffepr.com
(240) 381-5382