New York issues emergency order to cut acid rain emissions

[Nambe]

ALBANY, New York (AP)

Citing what they called a public health emergency, New York officials on Tuesday ordered power plants to reduce emissions blamed for acid rain.

State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Erin Crotty announced the emergency order aimed at reducing emissions at least temporarily. At the same time, she announced an appeal of the decision by a state judge this spring that had blocked the same regulations from taking effect permanently.

"These regulations are critical in order to further protect public health and New York's precious natural resources," Crotty said. "Any delay in implementing these critical regulations will result in more than 40,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide being pumped into New York's air," she added.

Power plants and unions had sued the state over its antipollution regulations. In the ruling in May, Supreme Court Judge Leslie Stein upheld the state's right to establish the strict measures but found the state had missed its own deadline to adopt them.

Because the new order cites a health emergency, it isn't directly reviewed by the court, but power plants could still sue to reverse it. The emergency order would reduce pollution levels for at least 90 days but could be extended to 1.5 years or more. ..

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Yeah, THAT'LL stop the pH level of the oceans from dropping

Um... news flash... acid rain's been a "public health emergency" for at least the last 30 or 40 years.

:eyes:

[Nambe]

2. My first thought when I saw this was the convention clean-up.

A few weeks of 5 weight oil for rain and then back to 30 weight after the convention. But on second thought, dimson would prefer 30 weight to drinking water any day.

[LauraK]

3. I think the protesters are the pollution they want to be rid of.

Acid rain makes the pavement slick for bicylcles. I've never met a repug bicylcle commuter.

[CaptainClark23]

4. not to argue a contrary position but....

doesn't ordinary, non-contaminated rain make the pavement slick for bicycles too?

[LauraK]

5. Normal rain is pretty managable.

If it hasn't rained for a while, the atmosphere is much more polluted and the pavement is more polluted too. It's really slick, even for cars. I worry more about out of control cars than I do taking a fall. Actually, I don't do much worrying. Defensive riding becomes automatic after a while.

[CaptainClark23]

7. I hear you.

Used to be a Bike Messenger in NYC...until a limo took me out on 3rd Avenue.

Only so much defensive riding can protect you form light-runners...

[LauraK]

8. Ouch! I hope you're okay!

My commute is three miles of bike path on the Willamette river and three city blocks. It's a nice commute. I started throwing peanuts to a big grey squirrel on the way and as we became friends, all sorts of critters got involved. It really is fun.

[CaptainClark23]

9. just fine

was over 20 years ago...and got enough $ out of it to pay the medical bills and the missed worktime.

Lawyer wanted me to go for multi-million suit, I told him to piss off. I was glad to be alive and didn't want to press my luck.

sounds like your rides are a whole lot more pleasant though. Give my regards to the squirrel (one of my favorite critters).

[WVhill]

6. They're barking up the wrong tree.

Most of the crap hitting the Northeast is coming from the coal burners in the Ohio Valley. All they're doing is making themselves more dependent on power from outside the region which creates more pollution to drift into the Northeast.

[Zorra]

10. Acid rain and the Bu$h "Clear Skies" policy:

Facts About the Bush Administration’s Plan to Weaken the Clean Air Act

In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush touted a plan that mandates a 70 percent cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years. But why is the Administration bragging about a plan that will actually result in more pollution than if we simply enforced the existing Clean Air Act? Who stands to benefit from placing communities at risk, particularly children and the elderly who are significantly threatened by air pollution?
snip-------
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is the major contributor acid rain and soot. Clean Air Act programs could reduce SO2 pollution levels to 2 million tons by 2012. The Bush Administration plan weakens protections to allow 4.5 million tons of SO2 by 2010 – allowing a staggering 225 percent more SO2 pollution.

http://www.sierraclub.org/cleanair/clear_skies.asp

Bu$h's chickens have now come home to roost in New York. If he gets four more years, his environmental policy will destroy the earth by the time our young children grow up.