Posted on 05/13/2004 2:55:12 PM PDT by snopercod
On May 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unleashed a new clean-air rule that further cuts diesel emissions from off-road vehicles, generators, locomotives and marine vessels. The new “Tier 4” mandate is EPA’s fourth step since introducing off-road standards in 1996, and it lowers such pollution by 90% (ENR 6/23/03 p. 13).
The rule varies across engine sizes, but most producers will reduce nitrogen-oxide levels in new engines to 0.3 grams per brake-horsepower-hour and particulates to 0.01 g/bhp-hr by 2014. Under the new rule, EPA is not requiring pollution controls on existing machines in the field.
Off-road fuel also is discussed. Refiners will need to lower previously-unregulated sulfur content in off-road fuel to 500 ppm by 2007, and again to 15 ppm by 2010. Industry observers say this sulfur requirement is feasible, but it will require capital investment, including control-equipment retrofits, on some existing plants.
According to EPA, the entire move, which helps to align air-quality standards for on-road and off-road machinery, will cost producers and consumers about $2 billion annually. But the agency says the “enormous” benefits will prevent thousands of premature deaths, including an estimated total of $805 billion in public-health costs over the next 30 years.
Not trying to pick a fight here, but I am curious as to what about this rule is so negative, and what is liberal about working to improve the environment in an economical way?
Conservatives have been beat over the head with the environment for so long, most don't know how to react to such improvements in any other way than to belittle them.
Personally, I think environmental issues are ripe for conservatives to control, and finally implement in an effective, efficient manner. Responsibility, the primary value of conservatism in my opinion, is the key. That includes all types of responsibilities - including environmental. Liberals generally deny responsibility by placing blame elsewhere and asking someone else to clean up the mess. Conservatives could re-build the "environmental buracracy" into a workable system that places emphasis on meeting goals instead of filling out paperwork.
I agree, this is a step forward.
Of course, women and minority groups will suffer first, most, and worse than anyone else, except maybe the children. I do not even want to go into the countless rare kangaroo rats your massive equipment has killed. My family and I are willing to go with less and less food, if it means preserving our precious environment.
As long as we have enough organic produce to last us until we can elect John Kerry. He knows all about this. And he cares.
It's a darn good thing we have a conservative in the white house, otherwise you might have agencies like this running amok. </sarcasm>
The EPA, like the hundreds of other little warrens of bureaucracy needs to be vetted!!!!
A patent on such a method was filed three years ago (see "Our Patent" on the side bar).
I'm still waiting for a first office action from the USPTO.
Just how much are you willing to pay for a loaf of bread or a potato before you start screaming about the food prices?
This rule will simply add costs to food production, and the consumer will pay those costs.
Clean or dirty -- there isn't much nutrition in a breath of air or glass of water.
I didn't look at the web site, so I can't comment on the method, but if you can patent a common sense approach to dealing with a problem and at the same time make some money - more power to you.
To me the underlying issue is responsibility. We all share in it, one way or another, whether we chose to admit it or not. And for conservatives, that includes environmental issues. If we don't takle environmental issues we will continue to allow the liberals to:
1. Frame the debate
2. Establish the issues at hand
3. Control the information and science
4. Champion supposed solutions
5. Disregard ideas that don't fit their agenda.
6. Control implementation
7. Blame others for the failures of their flawed solution.
They are in, and will continue to be in, control of the debate until conservatives make the effort to do it right.
This rule will simply add costs to food production, and the consumer will pay those costs.
Projected costs - $.04 per gallon. Current taxes on that gallon of gas $.40+.
This may in fact lead to slightly increased prices, however your argument is an order of magnitude out of context with the impact of current taxes - and most can still afford a loaf of bread...
I'm not patenting common sense. It's a management method with a very specific structure.
As for doing it correctly, I have 260 plant species on my property. Of those, perhaps 180 are natives and the rest exotics. A former president of the California Native Plant Society called it the most diverse 14 acres he has ever seen. The property is on its way to becoming a commercial research and development site. I have an online magazine and forum planned by which to validate findings by repeated experiments, the most rugged form of proof known (the hell with "peer review"). The management method and vlaidation process is designed to provide standing in the court when it comes to regulatory issues.
When we finally get our data into the courtroom, it's all over for the RICOnuts.
What you didn't mention in your list was the racketeering aspect of modern socialist environmental management. That's where we can get the public to understand the hows and whys of liberal claims and preferences, all evidence of any benefit to nature to the contrary.
I apologize if my comments came off as offensive, they were not intended to. As I said, if you can turn the tide toward sucessful, effective, and meaningful stewardship - I hope you get rich in the process because we will all benefit.
And if the environuts go tumbling down in the process - give me your address because I'll send you a check just to say thanks.
Take care and good luck.
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