AG Abbott to Congress: EPAs Regulations Violate Clean Air Act

Urges Congress to rein in agency   Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C.  In its zeal to regulate greenhouse gases the EPA has ignored the plain language of the Clean Air Act violated notice and comment requirements and attempted to re-write congressionally enacted federal laws by administrative rule-making" Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott told the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee where he discussed the states challenge to the Environmental Protection Agencys recent greenhouse gas regulations.   Testifying before Congress this morning Attorney General Abbott explained that the EPAs regulations are contrary to the Clean Air Act. Abbott challenged the EPAs recent abrupt changes saying: Texas remains committed to working with the EPA to improve air quality and hold polluters accountable. But Texas cannot support the EPA and in fact must challenge it when it pursues regulations that are contrary to the law and devastating to the economy. 

Media links
Sound clip of Abbotts testimony	Video of Abbotts full testimony
Attorney General Abbotts prepared statement
Attorney General Abbotts letter to Congressional leaders and President Obama

Thursays hearing focused on The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 which would prohibit the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern that the Clean Air Act was never intended and is ill-suited to regulate greenhouse gases. The Energy Tax Prevention Act would also statutorily repeal the EPAs greenhouse gas regulations. On six separate occasions the EPA has issued legally flawed regulations in an attempt to unilaterally regulate gases such as carbon dioxide. The State of Texas is challenging all six regulations in the federal court of appeals. Last month Attorney General Abbott wrote to congressional leaders and President Obama urging Congress to pass legislation such as The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 that would repeal the EPAs far-reaching regulations and prevent the agency from ignoring the plain language of the Clean Air Act. Attorney General Abbott testified before the Energy & Power Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.