Well, whaddya know: EPA proposes easing refinery pollution rules

[CatWoman]

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration proposed easing environmental rules Friday to allow oil refineries and other industries to change how they calculate whether they need pollution control equipment.

The oil refinery industry says the eased regulation would open the way for production of more oil and other products. But environmental groups say the proposed rules are gimmicks and loopholes allowing industry to emit more pollution, evade pollution controls and save money.

"This is a big gift to the refinery industry," said Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch, an environmental watchdog group. "They are saying 'let's close our eyes and pretend pollution is not happening.'"

In a news release, the Environmental Protection Agency said the proposed rules will make it easier for owners and operators to determine whether changes to a plant or facility require installing pollution control equipment. The rules largely affect oil refineries and pharmaceutical and chemical plants.


U.S. refineries are planning to increase oil refining capacity by 1.4 million barrels a day and will do so under strict environmental standards, said Bob Slaughter, president of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association.

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2006/09/10/news/national/iq_3593319.txt

[SoCalDem]

1. Oil exec: need pollution controls, at the refinery, Ernie?

Ernie:. Nope, boss we're fine..

Oil exec: Check.. everything's fine.. no pollution here..

[Kagemusha]

2. Wow, Katie was right, the EPA's job IS to protect us from the environment!

Who knew!

[Roland99]

3. Tens of billions in profits, it's obvious the oil companies are hurting

with the latest $8-10 drop in the price of a barrel of oil.



:eyes:

[StClone]

4. The beauty of this in the Conservatives eye

1) They love to be tell people what they want and get it just because they can.

2) It saves them money in the short term

3) They can label any needed rule tightening by ensuing Legislation as Tree hugging, Environment wacko over-regulation.

Sick

[globalvillage]

5. Bizarre.

It's like living in an alternate universe.
The evidence of global warming is overwhelming, yet they ease pollution standards.
Thanks for posting. This really sucks.

[ClintonTyree]

6. They already did that once............

right after Katrina hit. They relaxed the EPA standards so there wouldn't be a shortage or price gouging. :rofl: Yeah, that worked perfectly. Now they're relaxing the standards AGAIN? :wtf: This is getting fucking ridiculous. :eyes:

[Buzz Clik]

7. The bizarre part: current regs have nothing to do w/limited new facilities

Many, many analyses by outside groups and the oil companies themselves have revealed that the limitation to building new facilities is the astounding cost of building them, particularly compared to expanding current refineries. The regs have little impact on this.

This is just a continuation of the same ol' same ol' from the Bush administration: "Let's see ... environment versus corporate interests. Which would we prefer? Ha ha ha ha!!!"