Environmental Law

EPA TO REGULATE MILK SPILLS

By STEPHEN HOLZER

According to The Wall Street Journal:

"Two weeks ago, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule that subjects dairy producers to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure program, which was created in 1970 to prevent oil discharges in navigable waters or near shorelines. Naturally, it usually applies to oil and natural gas outfits. But the EPA has discovered that milk contains 'a percentage of animal fat, which is a non-petroleum oil,' as the agency put it in the Federal Register."

Putting aside whether or not the new EPA regulation is technically justified under the above-referenced program, I just wonder how the federal government proposes to to cut its $1.5 trillion deficit, and reduce the Nation's almost $14 trillion debt, while expanding regulation in this manner.  And this concern doesn't even address the financial impact on business during a time of recession.

Congress should investigate, and consider reversing, this latest expansion of federal power.

Full post as published by Environmental Legal Blogs on February 07, 2011 (boomark / email).