Lee Terry: “I thank the chairman and appreciate the gentleman from Boston's arguments here suggesting that this bill somehow exempts…”

“I thank the chairman and appreciate the gentleman from Boston's arguments here suggesting that this bill somehow exempts arsenic and all these poisons. The reality is it does not. It's an unnecessary amendment. It, one, is to make a point that I think is inflated. The reality is emissions of arsenic above the standard would still be in violation of EPA rules. The reality also exists then, if you're going to move the goalpost to a zero particulate, then we've got a different issue here. Now, the dust that we're talking about from agricultural activities-- plowing, harvesting, driving on roads--in our own definition says that consists primarily of soil and other natural and biological materials. So, if you're going to adopt a new standard totally different than current standards at the EPA on such issues as arsenic, the reality in rural America is that it is a natural part of our soil, and when dust would kick up and blow, it will be at a particulate level below what the standards are. We're just trying to say, look, the reality is the EPA even says that at the extremely minor level of particulates that would be inherent in topsoil that could be kicked up by wind or farming activities is not a health risk.…”