Obama's EPA riles Bush's industry hacks

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/technology/how_the_world_works/2010/10/11/bush_epa_versus_obama_epa/index.html

Obama's EPA riles Bush's industry hacks
Turns out there's a difference between enforcing the rules and doing your best to gut them
By Andrew Leonard



On Oct. 6 the EPA made a formal proposal for new pollution controls at the coal-fired Four Corners Power Plant near Farmington, N.M. The new rules, requiring the installation of catalytic reduction technology, would, said the EPA, result in an 80 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, and simultaneously "achieve cleaner, healthier air while improving the visibility at sixteen of our most pristine national parks and wilderness areas."

Environmentalists cheered the move, while the operators of the plant complained about the cost and warned that electricity prices would rise. Film at 11.

Let's put the climate change bill debacle to the side. There really can't be any argument, from an environmentalist's perspective, about the fact that Obama's EPA is a completely different beast from George W. Bush's EPA. As E&E's Robin Bravender reported in September:

The Obama administration is in the midst of a landmark series of Clean Air Act rulemakings.

In 18 months, U.S. EPA has -- among other things -- stiffened standards for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide for the first time in decades, revamped the George W. Bush administration's smog regulations and issued the first climate rules under the Clean Air Act.

Industry is in an uproar. "The aggressiveness of the rules has taken people by surprise," Jeff Holmstead, "former Bush EPA air chief and now industry attorney" told E&E.

That would be funny if it didn't bring back such sharp memories of how Bush's EPA appointees worked consistently to undermine everything the EPA stood for. Holmstead and his successor as director of the Office of Air and Radiation, William Wehrum, were lawyers who represented industrial clients in their struggles against environmental regulations before they joined the EPA. After years spent attempting to gut the Clean Air Act, they went right back to their old jobs.

If (or when) the Republicans retake the House of Representatives, they've already made it clear that one of their priorities will be to roll back the EPA's efforts to carry out exactly what the agency is mandated to do. As liberals sift through their various disappointments as to what the Obama administration has failed to achieve in its first two years, it might be worth noting that there are nonetheless some very real and important differences between this White House and its predecessor. An EPA that hasn't been handed over to industry, gift-wrapped, is one of them.

[hobbit709]

1. If it pisses them off, they doing something right.

[denimgirly]

2. Nice to see Obama being more for the Left these Days

I am hoping he continues this "for the people" approach after November too. If he had been working with Liberals for the past few years instead of against i think he would have had a more unified, supportive base instead of this mess we have going into November. Lesson learned. Here is hoping after November he doesnt look to the right for how he should govern. Right now i am holding my breath because his activity right now is not a good reflection since it is campaign season where all democrats act progressive to win votes.

I kind of feel bad for Obama because i am starting to think he realizes his errors and should have stopped begging and giving to the right with nothing in return, and actually whole heartedly listen to his base. So i am starting to feel i should go out and vote even if i despise democrats for selling us out for the past 2 years. I despise republicans even more which is what makes things os frustrating because we have 2 parties that are corrupt but one being entirely corrupt. So confusing.

Anyway, maybe i am a sucker but Obama's new progressive style is winning me over even though it might just be an act and might just end up going to vote even though i swore i woudln't. Hmm...we'll see.

[Teaser]

3. wow. you're pretty important, aren't you?

.

[impik]

5. Don't you know that Obama would never win without them?

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Every voter is important.

Even us lefties.

[Gman]

4. You never were a progressive, were you?