EPA to enforce greenhouse-gas rules in AZ

Arizona Daily Star ^ | 1/2/11

[EBH]

However, the state has reluctantly agreed to let the EPA impose the federal plan for now, because the agency could have blocked construction or expansion of projects that need the air permits.

The new rules, which took effect Sunday, add greenhouse gases to the list of pollutants covered under air-quality permits and will eventually require the largest polluters to reduce emissions.

The federal intervention widens a rift between Arizona and the EPA, which have been feuding over a dust-control plan in Maricopa County.

"It's not a good situation, but our approach will prevent a bad situation from getting worse," said Benjamin Grumbles, the now-former director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, who negotiated the agreement with the EPA.

Grumbles, who left the agency last month, said everyone knows it's important to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

"It just doesn't make sense to put all of our efforts into developing a program based on an EPA authority that is under intense scrutiny in Congress and the courts," he said.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks AAC! Near as I can tell from the article, Texas is standing alone in its defiance of the epa gestapo. Or, might the epa brown shirts be more accurately described as D.C. Dust Busters™??? Saving the world from dreaded dust bunnies — who knew??? Gotta wonder where Alaska and some other States are on this.

[Still Thinking]

However, the state has reluctantly agreed to let the EPA impose the federal plan for now, because the agency could have blocked construction or expansion of projects that need the air permits.

How? Were they planning to show up with the army?