West Virginia Senate Bill SB312

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/13/25

Caption

DEP rule relating to ambient air quality standards

Summary

Senate Bill 312 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to promulgate a legislative rule governing ambient air quality standards. The bill amends and reenacts a section of state law to approve a specific rule filed in the State Register on August 23, 2024, under the DEP’s existing rulemaking authority in §22-5-4 of the West Virginia Code. In practical terms, the bill does not itself create a new air quality program or standard in the statutory text; rather, it gives legislative approval to the DEP rule identified as 45 CSR 08. This kind of bill is part of the state’s legislative rule approval process and allows the agency’s ambient air quality standards rule to take effect as authorized state law.

Impact

SB 312 affects West Virginia’s administrative law and environmental regulatory framework by authorizing a DEP legislative rule on ambient air quality standards. Its main legal effect is to validate the agency’s rulemaking action and allow the rule to be implemented under state law, thereby influencing how air pollution and air quality requirements are administered for regulated entities and the public.

Sentiment

Based on the available record, the bill appears to be routine and noncontroversial. There are no committee transcripts, recorded votes, or other discussion snippets indicating opposition or debate, and the bill’s narrow purpose suggests it is a standard rule-authorization measure rather than a policy overhaul.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. If any concerns were raised, they are not reflected in the available transcripts or voting history. In general, bills authorizing environmental rules can sometimes prompt questions about regulatory burden, compliance costs, or the stringency of air quality standards, but no such objections are shown here.