Free Republic

A federal court has struck down an Environmental Protection Agency rule that forces cuts in soot- and smog-forming power plant emissions that cross state lines, dealing a major blow to the White House's air quality agenda. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule that forces cuts from plants in 28 states in the eastern half of the country, finding that it exceeds EPA’s powers under the Clean Air Act. The 2-1 court decision Tuesday is a victory for industry groups, some states and GOP lawmakers, who alleged the rule would...

See also: Obama Administration Combats Racist Air United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson testified before Congress in September of 2011 that small-particle (2.5 microns or less) air pollution is lethal. "Particulate matter causes premature death. It's directly causal to dying sooner than you should." At the hearing, Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) asked, "How would you compare [the benefits of reducing airborne PM2.5] to the fight against cancer?" Ms. Jackson replied, "Yeah, I was briefed not long ago. If we could reduce particulate matter to healthy levels, it would have the same impact as finding a...

<p>Just as California is set to begin controlling emissions from various kinds of equipment that contribute significantly to air pollution, Congress is poised to strip the state of crucial authority to do so.</p> <p>Missouri Sen. Christopher Bond has attached a dangerous rider to a U.S. EPA funding bill that would bar states from regulating off-road engines under 175 horsepower. That would allow everything from diesel pumps to airport service equipment, tractors to generators, leaf blowers to chain saws to escape regulation.</p>