Obama EPA’s Smog Overreach Bad for Business, Workers
Most Expensive EPA Regulation in U.S. History
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today denounced the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of a final rule to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, or smog. The new standard would be set at an unprecedented 70 parts-per-billion (ppb), down from the 75 ppb standard set in 2008, and is projected to increase energy prices, curb job growth, and hinder economic development.
“Time and time again, this administration has shown complete disregard for American workers and their families. The stricter smog standard – previously estimated to be the most expensive EPA regulation in history – will have widespread implications, raising energy prices and stunting economic growth and opportunity across the country.” said Thune. “At a time when our economy needs relief from regulatory overreach, the Obama EPA has once again dealt a devastating blow to job creators and hard-working Americans.”
Counties that exceed the ground-level ozone standard are considered non-attainment areas and will be subjected to stiff federal penalties, increased business costs, restrictions on infrastructure investment, and lost highway dollars. Areas in marginal attainment will face steep challenges in attracting new economic development.
On March 17, 2015, Thune and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) introduced the bipartisan Clean Air, Strong Economies (CASE) Act (S. 751), which would stem the economic harm from a lower ozone standard by requiring the EPA to focus on the worst areas for air quality before lowering the ground-level ozone standard. Thune and Manchin’s bill would also require the EPA to consider the costs and feasibility of the lower standard, which the EPA currently does not consider. Finally, the bill would prohibit the EPA from using unreliable modeling to expand non-attainment areas to many rural counties that otherwise would not be impacted by the expensive regulation.
In 2008, the permitted level of ground-level ozone or smog was lowered from 84 ppb to the current 75 ppb. Currently, 227 counties in 27 states are considered in non-attainment with the 75 ppb standard. The CASE Act would require 85 percent of areas currently not meeting the 75 ppb standard to meet compliance before the EPA could lower it further.
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“Buuuuuuutttttt…. we need to vote to continue funding all of Obama’s expansion of government because we control both chambers and are powerless to oppose him until we have a 60 person majority in the Senate..”
I am also disappointed that Senators Thune and Rounds are not fighting against the anti-American, anti-Constitution Obama and Democrat toadies.
Shame on you! They are fighting against him, by voting for everything he wants! Its a very complicated strategy that the average person cannot fathom. It requires Thune, Rounds, & Noem to vote for everything Obama wants in order to lull him into a false sense of security so when he least expects it? They will all of a sudden start opposing him and voting like actual Republicans.. Any day now! Any Day they will spring their brilliant plan!
Right but you will vote against workers to let companies cut their pensions though thats ok..Photo op your at it again,
It’s “you’re” not “your”. Try to at least use correct spelling even if you make stupid points, please.
Defund it or quit grandstanding. It is time for action, not rhetoric.
Profits are more important than clean air.
I wish we could get our America back! Stupid EPA…
Back before a Republican president worked with Congress to pass the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. I for one, miss that acid rain and I’m sure plenty of people in here do, too!
Stupid EPA. Fined Homestake for killing Whitewood creek with millions of gallons of arsenic pollution. Homestake lost a lot of jobs because they couldn’t pollute. Stupid Obama.
Republicans said both the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act would bring America to her knees. Wrong. Again. Why can’t they ever pick a fight that they’re on the right side of?
right side, right side…I made an unintentional joke there. The Republicans are on the “right” side of everything, but on the “wrong” side of almost everything, too.
So I would like to amend my remarks as such:
“Why can’t they ever pick a fight where they’re on the correct or intelligent side?”
There, that should do it.
Stupid Obama.
Spelling bad , wow scared.
The faster that the nation’s resources are transfered to the bureaucracy collective and away from private exploitation, the better. Direct economic kneecapping in the name of dubious, unlikely environmental improvement will speed it along. Clearing people out of low-population rural counties through bankrupting them will help chase them to their nearest urban hive faster too. Win win.