Committee Majority Assault on EPA – Science Democrats Stress EPA’s Role in Protecting Public Health
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled, “Examining the Science of EPA Overreach: A Case Study in Texas.” Testifying for the Committee Majority were representatives from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Texas Farm Bureau, and the Maguire Energy Institute. Testifying as the Minority witness was Dr. Elena Craft, a health scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund in Texas.
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her opening statement, “As a Texan, I know well the importance and the impact of oil and natural gas development in this country. Our economy has relied on fossil fuels to power our manufacturing base, our transportation and agricultural sectors, and more. And, for the foreseeable future, the country will continue to develop these resources and technologies to achieve our energy, economic, national security, and, in some cases, our environmental objectives. However, we must acknowledge that the development of any fossil fuel resource can have significant negative environmental impacts. I am not speaking about the environment in the abstract, but about the very oceans we fish, the air we breathe, and the water we drink. These too have real economic value. While few people get rich from clean air and water, everybody benefits. Likewise, nobody should have the right to take those away, regardless of the potential for financial profit. This is why we have an EPA, and why Congress has acted in the past to protect our air and water through legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, with the results being just that – cleaner air and safer drinking water. And that’s something that both Democrats and Republicans should be happy about.”
Democratic Members examined a wide range of issues, including, health effects associated with air quality in Texas; hydraulic fracturing and concerns over induced seismicity and groundwater contamination; climate change; and whether competition between coal and other energy resources is the cause of reduced coal usage, not EPA regulations.
Dr. Craft said in her testimony, “Texans have much to gain from further reductions in emissions of criteria pollutants such as ozone, mercury and other air toxics, and greenhouse gases. The evidence shows that the health benefits of reduced pollution far outweigh the cost. The evidence also highlights that the economy can grow as pollution is cut. Texas has not taken advantage of ample opportunities to get ahead of federal policy by developing its own laws and regulations to reduce criteria pollutants, air toxics, and greenhouse gases. Now, the state lags behind. At a bare minimum, all Texans deserve leadership that supports life-saving federal protections rather than stands in the way.”
Several Members addressed the negative impact that TCEQ’s refusal to enact the EPA rule requiring greenhouse gas permits had on Texas jobs. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) said, “I know that one of the missions of TCEQ is sustainable economic development, but the failure of Texas to adopt the 2010 EPA Rule has resulted in a backlog of about 80 permits waiting for approval at EPA. This has delayed construction of facilities in Texas ranging from natural gas power plants, natural gas compressors, chemical processing facilities, and has even resulted in a decline in drilling activity in the Barnett Shale in the region that I represent. Wouldn’t it have been better for Texas to work with the EPA instead of making lawyers rich and going into these costly court battles?”
Ms. Johnson introduced several letters into the record regarding the air and water in Texas communities and the hope that EPA and the state will do more. To see the letters, click here.
In one of the letters, Larry R. Soward, on behalf of Air Alliance Houston, wrote, “As a former Commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, I can attest that had the EPA not been actively overseeing Texas’ clean air efforts over the past decade, we would not have the improved air quality we see today. Further, only if the EPA continues its strong and active role will we have any real assurance that Texas will continue to strive further to clean up our air consistent with all applicable federal requirements. Texas can and should be the national leader in developing strategies and solutions to address environmental issues, but until it fully and freely accepts that responsibility, a strong and active EPA role must continue if we are to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment and maintain a strong and growing economy in Texas.”
Ms. Johnson said, “As much as some might wish for a world where big environmental issues are addressed voluntarily by industry or through the workings of the free market, or through individual state regulations, we all know from experience that it just does not work that way.”
Related Content
Next Article Previous Article