First Mercury, Now Lead?
For those who claim there's no difference between Republicans and Democrats, TPM Muckraker has the story on EPA's draft report that indicates that our government is considering relaxing standards for lead emissions.
The draft, titled "Policy Assessment of Scientific and Technical Information: First Draft Staff Paper," includes this remarkable sentence:
The draft, titled "Policy Assessment of Scientific and Technical Information: First Draft Staff Paper," includes this remarkable sentence:
Given the significantly changed circumstances since Pb was listed in 1976, we will evaluate the status of Pb as a criteria pollutant in light of currently available information and assess whether revocation of the standard is an appropriate option for the Administrator to consider. (Page 1-1, line 29)This is not the first time BushCo has considered relaxing controls on a neurotoxin. Earlier this year, Delaware joined 15 other states in challenging the Bush administration's new regulation creating a cap and trade system for mercury emissions. Last year, the Republican-controlled Senate failed to overturn this ill-conceived rule.
posted by Tom Noyes at 2:11 PM
5 Comments:
Tom,
From that NYT article on mercury.
The Senate narrowly defeated a resolution on Tuesday that would have called on the Environmental Protection Agency to rewrite rules for mercury emissions from power plants. Health and environmental groups say the present rules are too weak.
The vote was 51 to 47, largely along party lines. The resolution was brought up for a vote through a rarely used and rarely successful procedure, the Congressional Review Act. It allows lawmakers to challenge regulatory decisions.
Even if the Senate had passed the resolution, it had little chance to go further. Such challenges require approval of the House, which was unlikely to act, as well as the president's signature. * * *
The vote, in which 6 Democrats joined 45 Republicans for a majority, was widely viewed as a victory for power plant operators and other industry groups.
Was Carper one of those 6 Democrats? This seems like the kind of crap he would vote for. Stuffing the pockets of plant operators while giving the finger to everyone else.
Turns out Carper was a co-sponsor, so I doubt he crossed the line.
I'm feeling sick....................
Must...................
have...................
Mercury................
or.....
Honey, quick, call the cops. I'm being Pb'd to death........
My my. We are up early today.
We say again:
Thank goodness this is the end of GOP rule...
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