EPA delays stricter smog, mercury limits

[Robbien]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON —

The Environmental Protection Agency is delaying new rules that would impose stricter limits on two key pollutants - smog and mercury - drawing complaints from environmental groups who say the Obama administration appears to be caving in to political pressure from congressional Republicans.

<snip>


Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman of a Senate clean air subcommittee, said he was disappointed by the delay in the ozone rule, which would mean that strict new standards on lung-damaging smog will not take effect Jan. 1 as expected. The EPA now says the rule would take effect by the end of July.

<snip>

Gilfillan said the new smog standards would help prevent up to 12,000 premature deaths, 58,000 cases of aggravated asthma and save up to $100 billion in avoided health care costs. The proposed standard would replace a standard set by the Bush administration, which many clean-air advocates called inadequate.

<snip>

The EPA is under court order to issue final rules by Jan. 16, but the agency said in court papers Tuesday it is hoping to delay the rules until April 2012.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013625723_apusepasmog.html?syndication=rss

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Breathing and ingesting mercury may be killing people, but hey profits must be protected.

[katandmoon]

1. Another day, another cave-in.

[No Elephants]

12. Why does everyone always assume he's caving?

[Frisbee]

2. Obama caving to repukes? I don't believe it! n/t

[CreekDog]

4. Republicans have a 42-58 majority in the Senate

what choice was there?

[abqmufc]

10. Congress vote is void as this is mandated under the Clean Air Act of 1990

[valerief]

3. Wouldn't want to harm the profits of the medical industry by keeping

people well.

[bongbong]

5. End game now beginning

I fear the endgame - of blatant outright in-your-face crime - is now beginning. And just in time for winter! The 0.1 percenters (who consider the 1 percenters pikers) are going to gather all the baseballs they can steal and walk off the field.

Why now?

wikileaks. Too many crimes are coming to light now, too rapidly for them to do their usual coverups.

PS: The 0.01 percenters own the field, and everything else, too.

[abqmufc]

6. SaNcTiMoNious!!!!!

Having spent nearly the past 3 years of my life on these rules I am gutted. However this is no surprise with an Administration that has zero ambition or guts. Folks trust me, EPA is NOT your friend in all this. EPA will usher in a carbon tax that in the end will make all other bailouts and bank scandals look innocent. In short the carbon tax will make the Bush tax cuts seem very progressive.

Capitalism is not the way to solve our ecological woes...capitalism is the reason we have such woes. The lame-duck session has begun by the White House. I'm done with it all.

The Story of Cap n Trade (video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA6FSy6EKrM

[hatrack]

7. They won't even regulate mercury, but they're going to unveil a carbon tax?

Whatever.

[abqmufc]

11. We've figured out how to make $ on a carbon tax....

it is not about lowering carbon, improving public health, or lowering emissions. Carbon tax is just like the housing industry and junk bonds. Selling shit to anyone who will buy it.

[slay]

8. Mmm I just love the taste of mercury in the morning

for the record - DON'T INGEST MERCURY - it's very toxic. Shame on the EPA! We have nobody looking out for the rights and safety of the average person anymore. :(

[Robbien]

9. If you eat food, you cannot help ingesting mercury

It is in the air we breathe, poured into the water and spread out over the soil. Plants take it in. Feed animals and fish take it in. We cannot help but ingest it.

Funny that there are all the programs out there for curing cancer but not a single one for looking for the source of all the cancer. Looking for the source of cancer could possible hurt profits.