Gary Palmer: “The Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized a $2 billion regulation on the lime industry that the EPA's own…”

“The Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized a $2 billion regulation on the lime industry that the EPA's own staff have found is completely unnecessary to protect public health and welfare. Lime plants not only supply products essential for the proper function of critical activities concerning construction, but lime also keeps our roadways from breaking down and helps keep our water clean. As recently as 2020, just 4 years ago, the EPA conducted a full risk assessment of hazardous air pollutants emitted by the lime manufacturing industry. The EPA found that risks from the source category are acceptable, the standards provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health, and more stringent standards are not necessary to prevent an adverse environmental effect. The EPA received no new data or other information during the public comment period that causes us to change that proposed determination. I emphasize that is the EPA's own staff and scientists. This was published in the Federal Register in July of 2020. What is interesting is that lime is used for pollution control to absorb sulfur oxides, which helps prevent acid rain and reduces emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including mercury.…”