Our local tea party Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-TX27) has been blustering on at recent town halls about new EPA regulations that would "how much dust a rancher could stir up driving down a dirt road". His bluster on this issue has struck me as utter bullsh!+, but beyond my slim knowledge of the creation of the Soil Conservation Service in the wake of the Dust Bowl, I am not sure what the grain of truth is in his bluster. Is there anyone with knowledge on this issue that can point me in the right direction so I can formulate an appropriate question and follow-up for this week's town hall?
Below the fold is a letter he sent out on the EPA and Clean Air Act…
Dear Mr. DemSign:
Thank you for contacting me to express your opinion regarding the Clean Air Act.
I grew up in a farm and ranch family. I love fishing in clean water and breathing clean fresh air. I am a supporter of protecting the environment, but right now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is out of control. Their recent actions fail the common sense test. Several cases in point:
- Despite ever increasing air quality in Texas the EPA is taking regulatory authority away from the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission and is attempting to apply one size fits all federal mandates to Texas employers.
- Even though last year's Congress expressly rejected cap and trade, the EPA is attempting to enact it through regulations not passed by Congress.
- Proposed "particulate matter" regulations would limit how much dust a farmer or rancher can stir up driving down a dirt road or plowing a field.
What we need is a federal agency that is committed to protecting the environment by partnering with state and local governments and the business community, not a power hungry dictatorial agency that does not even consider the costs or economic impact of their regulations.
We need to change the culture within the EPA and other government agencies so we can save money, grow the economy and work with people, not against them. As a team, the government and the private sector can and will work to further improve the environment.
Thank you for trusting me to represent you in the United States Congress. Please visit my website at http://farenthold.house.gov and sign up for my newsletter.
With warm personal regards,
BLAKE FARENTHOLD
Member of Congress