§7621 Employment Effects

Summary

The Administrator must keep checking whether enforcing these rules causes people to lose jobs or move to other jobs. The Administrator can look into threatened plant closings or job cuts that are said to be caused by these rules. Any worker or a worker’s representative who lost a job, was laid off, was threatened with a layoff, or whose job is harmed because of a rule can ask the Administrator for a full investigation. The request must be written, say the reasons, and be signed. The Administrator must investigate and, if asked, hold public hearings with at least five days’ notice. At hearings, the employer and others must give information about how the rule affects jobs and explain why. If the Administrator decides a public hearing is not needed, they must tell the requester in writing with reasons. After the investigation, the Administrator must write findings and recommendations and make the report public. For these investigations and hearings, the Administrator can issue subpoenas, take testimony under oath, and require documents. Owners can ask to keep trade secrets confidential (except emission data); such information may still be shared with government staff working on the rules or used in related proceedings. Witnesses get the same pay and travel as in federal court. If someone refuses a subpoena, a U.S. district court can order them to comply and may punish contempt. Nothing here lets or forces the Administrator, states, or local governments to change or remove any rule.