E.P.A. Proposes Rule Change That Would Let Power Plants Release More Toxic Pollution

[Belsnickel]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/climate/mercury-coal-pollution-regulations.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes

Quote:WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced on Friday a plan designed to make it easier for coal-fired power plants, after nearly a decade of restrictions, to release into the atmosphere more mercury and other pollutants linked to developmental disorders and respiratory illnesses.

The limits on mercury, set in 2011, were the first federal standards to restrict some of the most hazardous pollutants emitted by coal plants and were considered one of former President Barack Obama’s signature environmental achievements. Since then, scientists have said, mercury pollution from power plants has declined more than 80 percent nationwide.

President Trump’s new proposal does not repeal the regulation, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, but it would lay the groundwork for doing so by weakening a key legal justification for the measure. The long-term impact would be significant: It would weaken the ability of the E.P.A. to impose new regulations in the future by adjusting the way the agency measures the benefits of curbing pollutants, giving less weight to the potential health gains.

In announcing the proposed rule, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement that the cost of cutting mercury from power plants “dwarfs” the monetary benefits. The proposal, which the acting E.P.A. administrator, Andrew Wheeler, signed on Thursday, is expected to appear in the federal register in the coming weeks. The public will have 60 days to comment on it before a final rule is issued.

I like to monetize things as much as the next person as it makes it much easier to analyze the effects of policy decisions. However, when we look at costs and benefits only through the lens of the green accounting visor, it makes it easy to ignore the human element of the decisions. It allows policy makers to detach themselves from the lives being impacted.

[fredtoast]

What is the monetary value of people getting sick and dying?

Pretty much every single environmental regulation costs money, but I though we as a nation decided it was worth it to keep from getting sick and possibly dying.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

Quote:President Trump’s new proposal does not repeal the regulation, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, but it would lay the groundwork for doing so by weakening a key legal justification for the measure.

How does it feel to be on that side of the "slippery slope" argument, Bels?

[Belsnickel]

(12-28-2018, 07:10 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: How does it feel to be on that side of the "slippery slope" argument, Bels?

It's why I focused on the way things are analyzed, which is what follows the part you quoted.

Quote:The long-term impact would be significant: It would weaken the ability of the E.P.A. to impose new regulations in the future by adjusting the way the agency measures the benefits of curbing pollutants, giving less weight to the potential health gains.

[Dill]

(12-28-2018, 07:10 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: How does it feel to be on that side of the "slippery slope" argument, Bels?  

Aren't we all on "that side"of this slope? Or would the resulting pollution and developmental disorders only affect Democrats?

[*Nately120*]

(12-29-2018, 06:19 AM)Dill Wrote: Aren't we all on "that side"of this slope? Or would the resulting pollution and developmental disorders only affect Democrats?

Well, how often does industrial pollution damage unborn babies or the American flag?

[Yojimbo]

(12-29-2018, 10:32 AM)Nately120 Wrote: Well, how often does industrial pollution damage unborn babies or the American flag?

Well it affects unborn babies every day, but you can’t really tell until after they are born and then they don’t need protection anymore.

[*michaelsean*]

(01-02-2019, 03:38 PM)Yojimbo Wrote: Well it affects unborn babies every day, but you can’t really tell until after they are born and then they don’t need protection anymore.

How aren't newborns granted protection?  What are you allowed to do to them that maybe i'm not aware of?

[Yojimbo]

(01-03-2019, 10:25 AM)michaelsean Wrote: How aren't newborns granted protection?  What are you allowed to do to them that maybe i'm not aware of?

This is a poke at the pro-life crowd, that then wants to cut food stamps and medicaid.

[*michaelsean*]

(01-03-2019, 11:25 AM)Yojimbo Wrote: This is a poke at the pro-life crowd, that then wants to cut food stamps and medicaid.

I know what it was supposed to be, but you gotta nail the phrasing?