Big oil presses state to work with EPA on pollution permits

[sonias]

AAS 8/6/10
Big oil presses state to work with EPA on pollution permits

HOUSTON — After a lobbying push by oil giants, a bipartisan group of Texas legislators has asked state environmental regulators to quickly solve a permit dispute with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that has left some of the nation's largest oil refineries in operating limbo.

A letter signed by 46 legislators is the latest indication that while Gov. Rick Perry and his Republican supporters are ready and willing to wage war with Washington on everything from environmental regulation to education spending, some battles are wearing on the industries that have helped Texas weather the recession.

Now, the state is trying to navigate the line between its federal fights and the need to keep industry — especially the oil giants — happy.

Twenty-nine legislators who signed the July 23 letter to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are Republicans and support Perry's public battle against Democratic President Barack Obama's administration.

"This isn't a political issue for us. This is a jobs issue for our constituents," said Republican Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston, who supports the state's challenges in court but wants decisive action that will allow industry to operate freely.

Ok so does this mean that these big oil companies are willing to clean up their act and comply with EPA rules and damn Rick Perry and his grandstanding?

:wow:

[sonias]

1. The League of Conservation Voters is mentioned in the article

But I didn't find out too much on their web site about their involvement obtaining the e-mails. They pretty much reprinted the same story with a different title

League of Conservation Voters website 8/6/10
Texas industry tiring over Governor Perry grandstanding on issue of flex-permits
August 6th, 2010

(snip)
David Weinberg, executive director of the Texas League of Conservation Voters, a group that supports the EPA’s ruling on the flexible permits, said the letter and industry’s pressure indicates companies want a quick resolution.

"Valero is one of the largest flexible permit holders," Weinberg said. “The fact that they’re rallying to get TCEQ to work tells you that what the governor is doing is not working.”

:kick:

[white cloud]

2. More Perry Big business

and not the voters