EPA: Texas plants will get new air permits

[sonias]

AAS 6/12/11
EPA: Texas plants will get new air permits

HOUSTON — Nearly 140 Texas plants, including some of the nation's largest refineries, have reached a deal with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to receive new permits even though a long-standing battle between the Lone Star State and the federal agency is far from over.

The EPA's announcement Tuesday that it reached a deal for all 136 companies to apply for new permits came more quickly than initially expected when the agency ruled last year that Texas' so-called flexible permits violated the federal Clean Air Act.

At the time, Texas blasted the EPA ruling, challenging it in court and saying it could hurt the companies' bottom lines, lead to layoffs or even force some older facilities to declare bankruptcy.

The EPA, however, determined to move quickly despite stiff state opposition, worked directly with the companies to reach the deals — an unusual move for a federal agency that has often taken a broader view of environmental regulation, leaving permitting for the states to handle.

The long-running tit-for-tat between Texas and the EPA, which has evolved from one over environmental regulation into a fight over states' rights, led the federal agency to take an unusual hands-on attitude in the Lone Star State, even as the battle continues.

Score 1 for the EPA and Perry 0! Ha ha ha ha!!!

:thumbsup:

[sonias]

1. With new pollution rules, EPA tries to save Texas from itself

Dallas Morning News Editorial 7/13/11
Editorial: With new pollution rules, EPA tries to save Texas from itself

For years, Texas has been in denial.

As the federal government was moving ahead with plans to reduce pollution, other states got busy readying for the long-promised regulations. They began reducing emissions and contemplating a cleaner energy portfolio for the future.

Instead of preparing, Texas pouted.

State leaders lamented an imagined anti-Texas bias. They complained that our state shouldn’t have to abide by the same clean-air standards that apply across the country. And they allowed industry to keep doing what it was doing: polluting our air.

Now, in a not-so-surprising move, the Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a new rule that will compel 27 states to cut smokestack emissions. The regulation targets coal-fired power plants and requires the reduction of sulfur dioxide, which contributes to soot and acid rain, and nitrogen oxide, a component of smog.

:applause::applause::applause:

[onestepforward]

2. Armendariz is doing a great job!

For the companies, however, operating stability is key, so they worked directly with the EPA to resolve the thorny issue that could have forced them out of business.

"I'm pleasantly surprised that we were able to get the flexible permit holders to agree to get new permits outside of an aggressive enforcement effort," the EPA's regional administrator, Al Armendariz, told The Associated Press.

He's thinking outside the box and it is working out rather well!


Ha! My favorite line in the article:

Perry's office did not immediately comment.

:evilgrin:

[sonias]

3. Perry's head is up his ass

As usual. :evilgrin: