OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Sen. Paul seeks Dem backing in EPA floor battle

Paul, speaking to reporters Thursday, questioned why the new rule is needed when U.S. air quality has already been improving.

“All of the science and objective evidence says that we are polluting less than we used to, and so the debate should be the rules that we have currently in place — are they adequate, what will new rules do, will it cause unemployment, will it cause power plants to shut down, will major cities have brownouts and lack of electricity in the heat or in the coldness of winter?” he said.

{mosads}“I think there are a lot of questions. It shouldn’t always be blindly — the number has to be lower each time,” Paul said.

But EPA, when releasing the rule, noted that it would provide major public health improvements by curbing pollution that still takes a major toll on the country.


EPA estimates that the Cross-State measure will prevent up to 34,000 premature deaths, 15,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 19,000 cases of acute bronchitis, 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma, and 1.8 million sick days annually beginning in 2014, according to an agency summary.

The League of Conservation Voters launched a TV ad in Kentucky Thursday that attacks Paul over his resolution.

The ad will run on broadcast and cable in the Lexington, Ky., market, the group said. It encourages viewers to contact Paul’s office and “Tell him to stop pushing laws that protect out-of-state polluters instead of Kentucky families.”

NEWS BITES:

Waxman: Solyndra subpoena wastes taxpayer dollars

Expect to hear more about the cost and complexity of complying with House Republicans’ Solyndra subpoena in the coming days.

Democrats blasted Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s investigative panel Thursday for issuing the subpoena even after the White House offered to provide documents if the GOP narrowed its request.

Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told reporters Thursday that it will be a massive undertaking for the White House to collect all internal documents related to the $535 million loan guarantee to failed solar panel maker Solyndra.

It could cost “millions of dollars,” Waxman told reporters.

Meanwhile, an administration official echoed Waxman’s concerns.

“It’s clear Republicans have designed this process with the aim of tying up White House staff,” the official told The Hill.

House panel approves bill blocking tighter ‘farm dust’ rules

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Power subcommittee approved legislation Thursday to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing tighter “farm dust” regulations.

The panel approved the bill despite repeated assertions by EPA that it has absolutely no plans to tighten existing regulations of coarse particulate matter, or farm dust, from industrial and agricultural operations.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said last month that she will formally recommend to the White House Office of Management that the existing standards, which have been in place since 1987, remain unchanged.

Report: EPA releases news on Fridays or before holidays

Resources for the Future, in a new paper that examines more than 20,000 press releases from 1994 to 2009, says the Environmental Protection Agency most often makes enforcement and regulatory announcements on Fridays or before holidays — when few people are reading the news.

{mossecondads}“Changing the timing of press releases could increase public awareness and provide a stronger deterrent against violations of environmental rules,” RFF Fellow Lucija Muehlenbachs said in a statement. “Announcements of violations early in the week, rather than on Friday, would probably be more effective at getting attention.”

In a statement, EPA said:

“Timely communications plays a critical role in improving transparency in EPA’s enforcement activities and providing a strong deterrence message. When circumstances allow, EPA works to issue press releases as early as possible in the day once a case has been filed or decided in court to provide maximum media coverage and the greatest deterrent effect.”

ON TAP FRIDAY:

House panel to review Interior mining overhaul

A House Natural Resources Committee panel will review potential Interior Department Appalachian coal-mining regulations that Republicans allege would be burdensome.

But the hearing will also provide a chance for lawmakers to review the Interior Department’s plan to fold its Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement into the larger Bureau of Land Management.

Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) has criticized the plan. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Director Joseph Pizarchik will be the witness.

Greens to preview Keystone pipeline protest

Environmental groups will hold a press conference to discuss the upcoming Nov. 6 demonstration at the White House against the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Here’s a quick roundup of Thursday’s E2 stories:

— Senate rejects GOP infrastructure bill that targeted EPA
— House GOP bill would tie infrastructure spending to energy production
— Dem compares GOP to ‘birthers’ for issuing Solyndra subpoena
— Energy secretary: Loan programs can be improved upon
— Barton hasn’t forgotten GOP energy turf spat
— House Republicans vote to subpoena White House for Solyndra documents
— Obama administration mulled Solyndra bailout days before company’s demise

Please send tips and comments to Ben Geman, ben.geman@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com, and Andrew Restuccia, arestuccia@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com.


Follow us on Twitter: @E2Wire, @AndrewRestuccia, @Ben_Geman