WASHINGTON, March 4, 2013 – API President and CEO Jack Gerard said that Gina McCarthy’s nomination as President Obama’s next EPA administrator comes at critical moment as America is poised to become a global energy superpower.

“We congratulate Gina McCarthy on her nomination to head the EPA,” Gerard said. “President Obama says his top priority is creating American jobs, and we will continue working with the EPA and the administration to help avoid jeopardizing that goal. The problem is that EPA, in many cases, is not proposing regulations that meet this goal.

“We hope McCarthy shares the president’s stated vision for an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy and will support only sound EPA regulations that reduce potential adverse impacts on employment and energy costs while protecting the environment.”

Gerard cited upcoming EPA proposals for new Tier 3 regulations on gasoline that could raise manufacturing costs, first time regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from refineries, and new ozone standards that could halt business development across the country.

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 500 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $86 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.