Attorney General Bill Schuette this morning fully signed on for the fight against new “burdensome” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations aimed at fighting global warming.
Schuette, jumping on the bandwagon of an increasingly trendy Republican issue, said he seeks to “protect and preserve” Michigan jobs as the state moves toward economic recovery.
The state’s top lawman said the consequences of the proposed EPA greenhouse gas rules could be complicated emission and permitting requirements imposed on many small manufacturing facilities.
Here’s the statement he released just a few minutes ago:
“We need more jobs and more paychecks in Michigan. To achieve real economic recovery, we must cut burdensome regulations, not pile them on without regard to consequence.”
Schuette joined 20 attorneys general in a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson this week requesting that the agency defer implementation of new greenhouse gas regulations. According to Schuette, the deferral is necessary to protect Michigan’s fragile economic recovery from a potential maze of regulations for job-providers. Delays in implementation will also provide necessary time for congressional review of the new regulations, he said.
On May 13, 2010, the EPA issued a rule which established the regulation of facilities that emit greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Although the first round of regulations will apply only to large facilities, such as power plants and oil refineries, the AG said he’s concerned about the potential impact on smaller facilities if the EPA lowers the regulation thresholds in 2012.
Under the previous attorney general, Mike Cox, Michigan joined Texas’ challenge to the regulations in the case, Coalition for Responsible Regulation v U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Michigan, Texas and 14 other states are challenging EPA’s original “endangerment finding” under the Clean Air Act that said greenhouse gases from new cars endanger public health and welfare because they contribute to climate change.
The case is currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and is not yet scheduled for oral arguments.
