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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.
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."
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.
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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.