Posted on 08/11/2012 12:13:09 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
SAN DIEGO — In a rare move, the federal government has put a stop to new highway projects in California's Imperial County as punishment for the county’s poor air quality.
Effective Aug. 9, the Federal Highway Administration is withholding federal funding for new highways in the county. The county will also not be allowed to move forward on projects still being designed.
Two years ago the Environmental Protection Agency told Imperial County it had 24 months to adopt new rules to improve air quality. Dust, pesticide use, the burning of agricultural fields and off-road vehicles make the air there among the most polluted in the nation.
But the county -- which is bordered by San Diego County on the west, the Arizona state line on the east and the U.S.-Mexico border on the south -- has not met the EPA’s demands to address that. That failure triggered funding sanctions, and this week, the Highway Administration said it could not allow highway projects to proceed.
The county had challenged the EPA's demands for new air quality rules in court, and late last month, the feds and the county reached a settlement to establish new rules. But it could be up to six months before the county is in compliance and highway funding can start flowing again.
EnvironMENTAL Nanny State PING!
It seems hard to believe they would be any worse than any number of other counties.
A county with the nations highest unemployment rate. This is going to help?
Obama’s new plan for infrastructure working Out just fine!
EPA should be one of the first few agencies to be significantly gutted and management replaced with people with common sense... if we win the Senate and POTUS and gain in the House.
Now, I wonder how long until Imperial County files suit in federal court, citing the recent SCOTUS decision on ObamaCare that directly stated that the federal government is forbidden from shutting off funds for failing to follow a completely unrelated rule... Because if medicare funds can’t be shut off for a state’s failure to join Obamacare, how can highway funds be shut off for failing to play games with the EPA?
The sooner states and counties stop taking their damned blood money, the sooner they’ll be rid of this government’s evil edicts imposed on every aspect of our lives.
BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO!!!!!!
BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO!!!!!!
BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO!!!!!!
BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO!!!!!!
Sorry for the multiple posts but I don’t think people undertsand how significant that SC ruling could be to restoring a measure of states rights.
That's pretty bright red line that has been crossed...
So if a state does not comply with Obamataxcare they can be denied federal funding for the thousands of other federal mandates ???
+1
Looks like the first house to clean for VP Ryan.
where does a 300 pound gorilla sit
Sounds like a huge load of BS to me.
Since Tricky Dick told the states that unless they adopted the 55 MPG Speed limit back in 1972!
Boy, for a county with a population density just this side of Greenland, they sure manage to pollute a lot (LOL).
Anyway, it’s nice to see the Obama Administration thanking California for their Electoral College votes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.