Obama Tells EPA to Back-Off on New Regulations

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Looks like someone is starting to try and run for re-election.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-ozone-20110902,0,6899709.story

President Obama announced Friday that he has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to drop controversial rules to cut smog levels, a move welcomed by the business community that has long decried them as onerous but one sure to alienate the president's environmental base even further as his administration backs away from key anti-pollution initiatives.

In a statement issued by the White House, the president said: "I have continued to underscore the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty, particularly as our economy continues to recover. With that in mind, and after careful consideration, I have requested that Administrator [Lisa] Jackson withdraw the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards at this time."

"Work is already underway to update a 2006 review of the science that will result in the reconsideration of the ozone standard in 2013. Ultimately, I did not support asking state and local governments to begin implementing a new standard that will soon be reconsidered," the statement concluded.

Low-level atmospheric ozone occurs when sunlight reacts with air containing hydrocarbons and emissions like nitrogen oxide. Research shows that living in areas with high concentrations of ozone worsens respiratory ailments. The EPA estimates that up to 12,000 lives could be saved annually from implementing the new standards.

After agreeing to work with environmentalists who had sued over the standards, the EPA has delayed issuing rules on low-level ozone, the main ingredient in smog, four times since 2010.

Most recently, it brushed aside a self-imposed July 29 deadline. Many in industry and the environmental community had expected the EPA to issue the rules and implementation guidelines by an Aug. 12 deadline to file a proposal for next steps with a court, as part of a pending lawsuit.

Environmental groups swiftly criticized the decision as the most recent surrender by the administration to the business lobby.

"The Obama administration is caving to big polluters at the expense of protecting the air we breathe," said League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski. "This is a huge win for corporate polluters and huge loss for public health."

Business groups welcomed the move as protecting job growth. "The president's decision is good news for the economy and Americans looking for work," said Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, the country's leading oil and gas lobby. "EPA's proposal would have prevented the very job creation that President Obama has identified as his top priority. Ozone levels and air quality continue to improve under current regulations and our industry is committed to making the air we all breathe cleaner while creating new jobs."

House Speaker John Boehner called the move a "good first step."

"But it is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to stopping Washington Democrats' agenda of tax hikes, more government 'stimulus' spending, and increased regulations -- which are all making it harder to create more American jobs," he said.

[Danno 1,228]

Did he just say "Screw Global Warming"?

Thats "Change" we might be able to believe in.