Dubya Fails NY, NJ, and Conn. Residents with Smog and Acid Rain

[JoseCuervo]

It is unfortunate that Dubya wouldn't enforce the regulations set forth by Clinton, and even worse, try and remove them. Luckily, Spitzer and Company are going to be able to protect the Citizens of NY, NJ, and Conn after Dubya failed them....

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are picking up the first case they say was dropped by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against five West Virginia coal-fired power plants accused of contributing to acid rain and smog in eastern states.


New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Thursday notice of the states' intent to sue was sent to Allegheny Energy Inc., based in Greensburg, Pa., over alleged Clear Air Act violations at West Virginia plants.

Spitzer said the EPA's former investigation found the plants made major improvements without installing air pollution controls required by law. Hundreds of thousands of tons more pollution are emitted annually as a result, Spitzer said.

The company has 60 days to negotiate a settlement before the lawsuit is filed.

A spokeswoman for Allegheny Energy said the company is complying with federal regulations and will meet with the state officials.

"We are always mindful of our responsibilites as an environmental steward in the operation of our power plants," said Paul Evanson of Allegheny. "We welcome the opportunity to meet with these states to amicably resolve these matters."

Last year, the EPA sought to revise rules under Clean Air Act regulations set during the Democratic Clinton administration. The Bush administration sought to change those rules to make it easier for industrial plants and refineries to modernize without having to buy expensive pollution controls.

Several state attorneys general blocked the changes in court action last winter, but the EPA said it would consider on a case-by-case basis whether to pursue dozens of cases brought under the Clinton-era rules.

Spitzer pledged then to take up cases set aside by the EPA.

"We have a pipeline of cases and we are constrained only by our own resources," Spitzer said. He estimated states may consider up to 50 cases dropped or expected to be dropped by the EPA.

"New York and its partners will act if the federal government is unwilling to do so," Spitzer said.

Spitzer, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey are all Democrats.

EPA spokeswoman Cynthia Bergman said the agency is still enforcing the Clean Air Act, but that due to "limited enforcement resources, we will continue to set priorities for the cases that should be pursued first."

"The most important thing we can do to improve air quality in this country is to reduce pollution from power plants and we have proposed the Clean Air Interstate Rule that will require power plants to reduce their emissions by 70 percent," Bergman said.

A trade group for power producers, Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, called the legal threat misguided and said the litigation won't reduce pollution, but will increase energy prices.

Spitzer said Pennsylvania officials are already investigating other alleged violations at the company's three power plants in that state.

"State like Connecticut must act aggressively to stop air contamination because of appalling, astonishing inaction by federal agencies," said Connecticut's Blumenthal.

"Faced with federal regulators at the EPA who have abdicated their responsibility to enforce the Clean Air Act, we will join with these other states to ensure that corporate polluters are not permitted to defy the law and profit at the expense of our environment and the health of our citizens," said New Jersey's Harvey.

 

[pawclaws]

So now old GW is responsible for the East Coast weenies not washing their cars often enough or for allowing West "by gawd" Virginians to have electricity! He is probably at fault for your insomnia too Elkgunner!

 

[Nemont]

EG,

These are many of the same people who are bitching about High gas prices. You seem to forget that regulations also come with a cost. Some need to go back an re-examine the particulate levels allowed by the clean air act. That act was updated during the Clinton years and most east coast power plants are being retrofitted to comply.

This is more about presidential politics and not clean air.

"State like Connecticut[/B ](don't suppose Teddy and his clone Kerry had any influence here) must act aggressively to stop air contamination because of appalling, astonishing inaction by federal agencies," said Connecticut's Blumenthal.

"Faced with federal regulators at the EPA who have abdicated their responsibility to enforce the Clean Air Act, we will join with these other states to ensure that corporate polluters are not permitted to defy the law and profit at the expense of our environment and the health of our citizens," said New Jersey's Harvey

 

[JoseCuervo]

Paws,

I should have figured you wouldn't be smart enough to understand Dubyas abdication of duty on this one...

Nemont,
I am not sure, but isn't Jersey a Republican State???? I think all this is just a reaction to Dubya deciding he didn't want to ask the Energy companies to clean up their acts, if it was actually going to cost them money... Some of the plants aren't being retrofitted, and Dubya is ok with that...

 

[Nemont]

EG,
Are the power plants exceeding the clean air act standards? I said they need to review what the clean air act does in fact say. Read it and you may be surprised exactly what the act does and doesn't say.

Nemont

 

[ELKCHSR]

I should have figured you wouldn't be smart enough to understand Dubyas abdication of duty on this one...

 

[pawclaws]

Speakers on and Click Picture

 

[ELKCHSR]

LMAO!!!!
Socialism
Communism
Democrates
Watermellons
To the rescue, High Ho Silver Away......