Posted on 01/08/2010 8:04:36 AM PST by SmithL
Numerous California counties, including several in the Bay Area, will have to get tougher on polluters to meet strict new limits on smog proposed Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The tighter regulations, which would replace Bush-era rules, are expected to leave hundreds of counties nationwide out of compliance with federal standards and cost up to $90 billion a year to implement by 2020.
In the Bay Area, four counties would have been out of compliance under the Bush rules, which were supposed to kick in between 2014 and 2020. The new rules would make it even tougher for those four counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Solano - to comply. The proposed rule would add Napa County to that out-of-compliance list.
The smog levels in San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Sonoma counties would be acceptable even under the stricter rules.
EPA officials said the proposed rules would ultimately save billions in avoided emergency room visits due to respiratory conditions, premature deaths, missed work and school.
"Using the best science to strengthen these standards is long overdue action that will help millions of Americans breathe easier and live healthier," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The intent is to eliminate all productive jobs and replace them with government overseers.
90 BILLION????
Do you suppose that these new rules would shut down Travis Air Force Base in Solano County? Jets do produce smog and they sure have a lot of 4 engine jets there.
I have lived in Santa Clara County the last 24 years. The contrast of clean, bright air here is staggering compared to what I encountered as a kid. I have no idea what pollution these morons refer to when they site a "Spare the Air" day.
Preposterous.
I’m a happy refugee from nutty Santa Clara County, now happily ensconsed in Placer, the most Republican county in the state.
What these simpletons don’t point out is that prevailing winds tpyically push pollution from the compliant to the non-compliant counties.
How clean does the air have to be? It seems that they keep turning the screws more and more just to exercise their power.
EPA has determined that co2 is a pollutant so if all of our “elected” officials would just stop breathing........
an unfettered gubamint is the biggest pollutant.. it employs the most people, owns the most vehicles and aircraft, ..
but I like your idea. ;-)
Prove it, with numbers, people. This is the government and you have to use real numbers and prove it, just like small businesses do.
And how about a cost-benefits anaylsis, while you are at it ?
...and in other news, wind off the sea blows pollution inland.
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.