So,
the EPA has issued is own press release in regards to the Obama
Administration’s proposed budget.
“To
meet our environmental challenges and ensure fiscal responsibility, we’re
proposing targeted investments in core priorities. This budget cuts spending
while promoting clean air, land and water, growing the green economy and
strengthening enforcement,” said Administrator Lisa Jackson.
The
release said, “This budget contains more than $43 million for additional
efforts to address climate change and work toward a clean energy future. EPA
will implement the greenhouse gas reporting rule; provide technical assistance
to ensure that any permitting under the Clean Air Act will be manageable;
perform regulatory work for the largest stationary sources of greenhouse gas
emissions; develop standards for mobile sources such as cars and trucks; and
continue research of carbon capture and sequestration technologies.”
Space
limits, plus my fiscal ignorance when it comes to the federal budget, prevents me
from offering much insight. The only thing I’m wondering about is how do you
strengthen enforcement with overall less money, seeing how there hasn’t been
much enforcement of venting violations, for example, here in the HVACR
industry. And how do you ensure, perform, develop, and continue with less
overall money?
And
I’m willing to suspect that the proposed budget will get mangled, manipulated,
and mauled in Congress with the end result being less - not more - dollars.
It
is becoming more and more apparent that concerns about climate change will be
addressed from “good of the environment,” or “it is costing too much to do
otherwise” perspectives than a fear of fines.