The N.C. House voted today to override Gov. Bev Perdue's veto of legislation that sharply limits environmental rulemaking. The N.C. Senate had overridden the veto on July 13, so the measure is now law.
The bill was styled as a way to create jobs by limiting the proliferation of rules that its Republican backers say stifle business. It followed a series of regulatory-reform hearings held around the state this spring.
The law prohibits state environmental agencies, in most cases, from enacting rules that are stronger than federal standards. It orders agencies to ferret out "burdensome" regulations and conduct cost-benefit analyses of new rules, identifying alternatives for those with a fiscal impact of $500,000 or more a year.
Administrative law judges, not state agencies, will have final say on appeals of agency fines or orders. Judges have previously submitted only recommended decisions.
Environmental advocates predict the new restrictions will quickly come back to haunt the state. Among rules likely to be entangled, they say, are standards for the now-banned drilling practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for natural gas.
"Effective now," said Sam Pearsall of the Environmental Defense Fund, "it's going to be a mess."
Monday, July 25, 2011
House overrides veto on rules reform
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6 comments:
Wow, you mean NC could actually tap into that 40 years worth of natural gas it's sitting on now? I can see why "environmental advocates" (i.e. watermelons - green on the outside, red on the inside) would be horrified. New jobs, abundant clean energy, an increased standard of living, prosperity, less dependence on statists and leftists... true horror.
There's a HUGE difference between what a cost-benefit analysis says and what a fiscal impact of $500k is.
THANK YOU LEGISLATURE for making such a smart decision. It is time we put some of the so called environmental groups (which in reality are really just a special interest group) on notice that it is time to back off of their left wing tactics. Humans have rights too and this is a great step for mankind. A complete re-organization of DENR is desperately needed. They would be much better if they served the residents of NC rather than regulate without common sense. THANKS again to the Legislators whom changed NC for the better.
Does this mean the well water will be contaminated like in Michigan?
Hello cancer.
The well water is already contaminated with mercury and arsenic from all the coal plants. And whoever thinks this fracking is a good idea should see the documentary called "Gastown" or maybe "Gasland". Fracking is scary stuff.
natural gas isn't clean energy dr dingbat
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