Bush says 'Clear Skies' passage among new EPA chief's first tasks

Bush says 'Clear Skies' passage among new EPA chief's first tasks

Washington (Platts)--23May2005


President Bush Monday said one of the first tasks of his new Environmental
Protection Agency chief will be to work with Congress to pass the
administration's "Clear Skies" emissions bill. Appearing at the EPA
administrator's swearing-in ceremony, Bush called Stephen Johnson the "right
man" to advance his philosophy of "protecting the environment while also
promoting growth. Citing Johnson's background as a scientist and career EPA
employee, Bush said the new administrator "will help us continue to place
sound scientific analysis at the heart of all major environmental decisions."

Bush called EPA's two recently issued rules aimed at cutting sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxide and mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants "a good
start," but said they are no substitute for the Clear Skies legislation. "And
Congress needs to pass the bill this year." A Clear Skies bill (S 131)
sponsored by Sen James Inhofe (Republican-Oklahoma), died in a deadlocked
Senate subcommittee earlier this year.

This story was originally published in Platts Electricity Alert
http://www.electricityalert.platts.com

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