The problem here is pretty straightforward – under the Constitution, the EPA shouldn’t even exist. If it didn’t, there would be no national standard. Every state would set its own requirements.
Scott Pruitt, the embattled head of the Environmental Protection Agency, took the side of poultry companies and other businesses in Arkansas in a dispute over the pollution of an ecologically sensitive and economically vital watershed, environmental gr…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2018) – California plans to take on Trump administration efforts to expand offshore oil drilling by blocking the transportation of petroleum through the state. According to a Reuters report, California officials say they plan to deny pipeline permits for transporting oil from new leases off the Pacific coast. Last month, the…
Within weeks of Donald Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord, the left has already begun to prove you don’t need the federal government forcing environmental policies to address climate issues. State and even local action can effectively move things forward. To date, 285 U.S. mayors have agreed to align their cities…
The Republican-dominated Virginia Legislature has killed a bill that would set the foundation to reject the EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” in practice. Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol) introduced House Bill 1974 (HB1974) on Jan. 10. The legislation would have prohibited the Department of Environmental Quality from unilaterally implementing EPA Clean Power Plan emission requirements. Had the bill passed, the…
RICHMOND, Va. (Feb. 7, 2017) – Today, the Virginia House passed a bill that would set the foundation to reject the EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” in practice. Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol) introduced House Bill 1974 (HB1974) on Jan. 10. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from unilaterally implementing EPA Clean Power Plan emission requirements.…
RICHMOND, Va. (Feb. 7, 2017) – Today, the Virginia House passed a bill that would set the foundation to reject the EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” in practice. Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol) introduced House Bill 1974 (HB1974) on Jan. 10. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from unilaterally implementing EPA Clean Power Plan emission requirements.…
DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan. 25, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Iowa House would nullify all EPA regulations within the state, and place sole authority for environmental regulations in the hands of a state agency and the legislature. A coalition of seven representatives introduced House Bill 100 (HF100) on Jan. 24.The legislation rests on…
RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 25, 2017) – A Virginia House bill that would set the foundation to reject the EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” in practice cleared its first hurdle yesterday, passing an important committee. Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol) introduced House Bill 1974 (HB1974) on Jan. 10. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from unilaterally implementing…
RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 17, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Virginia House would take a small, but important, first step in setting the foundation to reject the EPA’s “Clean Power Plan” in practice. Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol) introduced House Bill 1974 (HB1974) on Jan. 10. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from…
INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 9, 2017) – An Indiana bill would nullify all EPA regulations within the state, and place sole authority for environmental regulations in the hands of a state agency. Rep. Chris Judy filed House Bill 1127 (HB1127) on Jan. 5. The legislation rests on the following legislative finding: “The regulation making authority of the…
HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 27, 2016) – Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a bill that expands and clarifies a state law that takes a small but important first step in setting the foundation to reject federal some EPA rules and regulations in practice. Sen. Donald White (R) introduced Senate Bill 1195 (SB1195) earlier this year. The legislation amended…
RALEIGH, N.C. (Jun. 27, 2016) – A bill originally written to prohibit North Carolina from assisting in the enforcement of certain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules was drastically altered in committee, taking out the provisions that would have pushed back against federal regulations. Introduced by Sen. Chad Barefoot (R-Wake), Sen. Jim Davis (R-Cherokee), and Sen.…
JACKSON, Miss. (June 3, 2016) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has put a pause on implementing the EPA “Clean Power Plan.” The move sets a precedent that state could ultimately use to permanently nullify the federal program in effect. According to DEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur, the agency will hold off implementing the plan…
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 25, 2016) – Earlier this month, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill into law that halts state efforts to comply with the EPA Clean Power Plan, at least temporarily. Senate Bill 318 (SB318) passed both houses of the Kansas legislature comfortably. It prohibits any state agency from engaging in activities relating…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 11, 2016) – A bill introduced in Ohio would reject the federal “Clean Power Plan” rules in the state and set the foundation to nullify it in practice. Introduced by State Rep. Al Landis (R) House Bill 541 (HB541) would prohibit any state agency from taking any action to implement the federal “Clean Power…
MADISON, Wisc. (April 5, 2016) – A bill signed into law in Wisconsin bars the state from enforcing new federal regulations on wood burning heaters, setting the stage to nullify such regulations in effect within the state. Rep. David Craig (R-Big Bend) introduced Assembly Bill 25 (AB25) in February of 2015 and it was carried…
RICHMOND, Va. (Mar 28, 2016) – On Friday, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) vetoed a bill that would have taken a small, but important, first step in setting the foundation to reject federal some EPA rules and regulations in practice. House Bill 2 (HB2) would have required the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to prepare an extensive…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (March 25, 2016) – On Wednesday, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed a bill into law that takes a small, but important, first step in setting the foundation to reject federal EPA “Clean Power Plan” rules. Sen. Gregory Boso (R-Summersville) introduced Senate Bill 691 (SB691) on Feb. 22. The legislation would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection from…
DENVER, Colo. (Mar. 24, 2016) – A Senate committee killed a Colorado bill that would have taken a small, but important, first step in setting the foundation to reject some federal EPA rules and regulations in practice. Sen. John Cooke (R-Greeley) introduced Senate Bill 46 (SB46) on Jan. 19. The legislation would have prohibited the…
