Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Gov. Rick Perry issued the following statement regarding the EPAs decision to disapprove Texas air permitting program:
The EPAs irresponsible and heavy-handed action not only undermines Texas successful clean air programs but threatens thousands of Texas jobs families businesses and communities throughout our state. It will also likely curtail energy supplies and increase gasoline prices nationwide.
Its shocking for the Obama Administration to target a 16-year-old air quality program that has achieved a 22 percent reduction in ozone and 53 percent reduction in NOx from regulated sources since 2000. Texas air quality program has outperformed federal programs in virtually every category.
The EPAs action will undermine environmental gains as well at employers like Lockheed-Martin U.T. San Antonio Health Science Center the LCRA Fayette plant and myriad energy producers throughout Texas including two facilities operated by the federal government Fort Bliss and the
Department of Energys Pantex plant. Blinded by its activist agenda the EPA is even threatening a renewable-energy power plant and a manufacturer of energy efficient air conditioners.
Texas will continue to fight this federal takeover of a successful state program enacted under Gov. Ann Richards and operated in full under President Clinton which has cleaned Texas air at the same time it contributed to the nations strongest economy.
I again call on the president and Congress to immediately rein in this rogue agency and stop the EPA from continuing to threaten Texas families their jobs and cost of living."
