Political Quotes

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5 minutes. Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, it is a blanket block to the EPA from fully implementing and enforcing air toxic standards for boilers and incinerators. Among other things, there are boilers that burn natural gas, coal, wood, oil, and other fuel to produce steam, and the steam does produce electricity or provide heat, and incinerators burn waste to dispose of it. These boilers and incinerators have the potential of releasing very toxic pollutants such as mercury, lead, dioxin, and other pollutants that are linked to health effects. In 2011, after a robust public process, including three public hearings and responding to thousands of public comments, the EPA finalized standards to reduce toxic emissions for existing new boilers and commercial industrial solid waste incinerators and sewage sludge incinerators. Now, among other things, the rule requires emissions to just meet certain standards. It is a measurement of air pollution based on the degree of which light is blocked by the pollutant from the smokestack. The rule also allows the EPA to approve alternative opacity limits under certain circumstances, so there is flexibility within the rule.…”