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EPA Proposes Rule Change That Would Let Power Plants Release More Toxic Pollution (npr.org)
The Trump administration announced on Friday a plan designed to make it easier for coal-fired power plants, after nearly a decade of restrictions, to release into the atmosphere more mercury and other pollutants linked to developmental disorders and respiratory illnesses [Editor's note: the link may be paywalled; alternative source].
From a report: The limits on mercury, set in 2011, were the first federal standards to restrict some of the most hazardous pollutants emitted by coal plants and were considered one of former President Barack Obama's signature environmental achievements. Since then, scientists have said, mercury pollution from power plants has declined more than 80 percent nationwide. President Trump's new proposal does not repeal the regulation, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, but it would lay the groundwork for doing so by weakening a key legal justification for the measure. The long-term impact would be significant: It would weaken the ability of the E.P.A. to impose new regulations in the future by adjusting the way the agency measures the benefits of curbing pollutants, giving less weight to the potential health gains.
In announcing the proposed rule, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement that the cost of cutting mercury from power plants "dwarfs" the monetary benefits. The proposal, which the acting E.P.A. administrator, Andrew Wheeler, signed on Thursday, is expected to appear in the federal register in the coming weeks. The public will have 60 days to comment on it before a final rule is issued. [...] Reworking the mercury rule, which the E.P.A. considers the priciest clean air regulation ever put forth in terms of annual cost to industry, would represent a victory for the coal industry, and in particular for Robert E. Murray, an important former client of Mr. Wheeler's from his days as a lobbyist.
In announcing the proposed rule, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement that the cost of cutting mercury from power plants "dwarfs" the monetary benefits. The proposal, which the acting E.P.A. administrator, Andrew Wheeler, signed on Thursday, is expected to appear in the federal register in the coming weeks. The public will have 60 days to comment on it before a final rule is issued. [...] Reworking the mercury rule, which the E.P.A. considers the priciest clean air regulation ever put forth in terms of annual cost to industry, would represent a victory for the coal industry, and in particular for Robert E. Murray, an important former client of Mr. Wheeler's from his days as a lobbyist.
...for a group (Republicans) who only care about life when it's yet to be born. After that, if you're not a member of the lucky sperm club, they could really give a bubbly fart about your life.
Years ago when I worked those types of jobs they would shut them off at night especially if it was raining. You could always tell when a precipitator went offline. Its not just power plants that do this. Paper mills will also power off their pollution control devices. Even if they are more passive systems like a baghouse.
if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, its very likely a duck.
this administration has been hell-bent on reversing every obama era decision and policy. they have also been doing all they can to side with the polluters and against any kind of environmental protection. pruitt was ousted but allowed IN, in the first place, and out kicked out when it became too much for even the R's to bear.
so, any change that trump makes has to be assumed to be that of a Bad Actor, and this is no exception. if he's signing his name to something, it will be bad for people and only good for his pay-masters.
anyone, here, saying that its not going to hurt us is a fucking shill, full stop.
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
U can not impeach for this ( though he is fucking insane ). However, when mueller is done, I have no doubt that trump, most of his family, pence, and most of his admin, will go down for violations of Logan's act combined with many other indictments. But, technically, this is legal.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
This was actually started under Clinton and was to happen in 2001. But W postponed it until 2016. Oddly, had this happened in the 00s, most coal plants would have elected to clean up. It was the fact that nat. Gas was so cheap, that caused american coal plants to replace most of the dirtiest ones. Many of the ones closed will stay closed, BUT, it is probable that EVs are going to cause a number of these to reopen. Hopefully, trump pushes nuke SMR fast.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
By loosening the standard, this will make people in critical swing states that have a lot of coal mining, such as Pennsylvania, dumber and more like to vote for Trump in 2020.
I know you’re being silly, but there is a nugget of truth there.
Trump promised the coal miners that he’d be bringing lots of coal jobs back - but so far he’s been unable to deliver. His administration has tried other things to kickstart the resurgence of coal, but to no avail. He’s running out of time to fulfill that promise... and he needs those votes in 2020.
#DeleteChrome
by passing an anti-speed trap law.
And it wasn't a bureaucrat who created the speed trap, it was, again, a politician. Specifically one who didn't want to pay his taxes so he used speeding tickets from folks outside his district to pay for maintaining police, fire dept, etc.
Again, your anger is misplaced. And that's not by accident. Somebody is working really hard to make you distrust government (while making sure to use gov't for their own benefit). Think harder. You can figure this out. I know you can. And when you do you can join us in making the world better for real. I mean that.
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He's already given up on the coal miners. He's all in now on the border wall and the govt shutdown is the last chance of it possibly getting funded.
Now, if I were Pelosi / Schumer, I might offer him the full $5B for the wall, in exchange for him releasing his tax returns. Because of course he wouldn't go for it, but the excuses would be pure gold.
Federal courts have not ruled and there is nothing in the Constitution.
The president cannot be charged in federal courts while sitting as president, mainly: because the judiciary on its own does not have the power to prosecute a court case, and neither does the legislature --- that is not a judicial power, that is not a legislative power: that is solely an executive power. Guess what the constitution says about where the executive power lies: Article II Section 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. --- The president is immune from arrest by virtue of being in absolute control of the full executive power of the US government; that's why unlike members of congress the president and his cabinet members don't need a specific exemption written into the constitution for protection from arrest - simply because the President and Vice President have absolute authority over the federal police forces, But members of congress DO have a constitutional protection against being arrested while in office.
In other words: Essentially, only someone working for the president can be the prosecutor in a court case against ANYONE.
If such person were to attempt to prosecute the president in court; the president could simply order them to drop the case, or fire them, and that individual would no longer be able to represent the US government.
Once upon a time Congress thought they had the power to prevent the president from firing an official the Senate had confirmed.
The supreme court smacked them down appropriately for that in Myers v. United States.
Also, if the president were sitting in office, the general law enforcement cannot raid his office and attempt to arrest him --- the president as cmdr. in chief can direct the secret service and the military to thwart any such attempt.
The president can also write up a pardon for himself --- since he has the full executive authority to grant even pardons; the only adverse act he cannot prevent is the legislative act of impeachment as provided for by the constitution.
The more time passes, the more apparent it is that MAGA simply means the more (poor) people die, the better.
The less (rich) people remain, the more resources per capita are available.
Voila, you (few) are great again!