Texas Republicans aim to stop new clean-air rules through spending bill

[white cloud]

ByDave Michaels/Reporter
[e-mail] | Bio

5:00 PM on Tue., Feb. 15, 2011 | Permalink
Texas Republicans are seizing an opportunity to block EPA regulation of greenhouse gases through a continuing resolution to fund the government.

The lawmakers, who include Reps. Joe Barton (R-Arlington), John Carter (R-Round Rock), and Ted Poe (R-Humble), are seeking to cut off any funds used to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, refineries, and other stationary sources. The lawmakers' amendment is one of more than 400 proposed for a bill that would fund the federal government, including EPA, for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year, which ends in September.

Carter also has proposed an amendment that would block new limits on mercury and other toxic pollutants emitted by cement plants. Technology to reduce mercury emissions is available, yet the EPA has never required existing cement plants to adopt it. The EPA estimates that the rule would reduce mercury emissions by 92 percent.

But an SMU study performed for the Portland Cement Association says the regulation would force the closure of some plants and cause more than 15,000 jobs to be lost. The EPA's own analysis found the regulation would cause cement industry employment to fall about 8 percent, or 1,167 workers. Texas is home to 22 cement kilns, more than any other state.
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http://energyandenvironmentblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/02/texas-republicans-aim-to-stop.html

[sonias]

1. Why do republicans hate breathing?

Are they made of something other than the rest of us? Can they breath CO2 directly? Maybe they have evolved to breath the crap that kills the rest of us.

:shrug: