Thune Highlights Ag Groups' Support of Resolution Disapproving of EPA Energy Tax

Press Release

Senator John Thune today highlighted a letter sent by agricultural groups in South Dakota and across the nation expressing support for a Senate resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act to be offered by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The resolution formally states the Senate's disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) endangerment finding, which would pave the way for expensive regulations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. If Congress approves a resolution of disapproval, it would effectively stop the EPA from moving forward with regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses.

"Agriculture groups in South Dakota and across the country are tuned in to just how damaging this rule will be for agricultural producers," said Thune. "The EPA is unilaterally going around Congress in drafting new carbon dioxide regulations and is attempting to use a law written 20 years ago for an entirely different purpose. Congress must act to block this backdoor tax on energy intensive industries like agriculture."

The letter is signed by 138 agricultural groups nationwide, including the South Dakota Agri-Business Association, the South Dakota Farm Bureau, the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, the South Dakota Grain and Feed Association, South Dakota Wheat, Inc., and the South Dakota Corn Growers Association. Senator Thune plans to cosponsor the Murkowski resolution of disapproval once introduced. The full text of the letter follows:

January 20, 2010

The Honorable Lisa Murkowski
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Murkowski:

The agricultural organizations listed below support your introduction of a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act regarding the decision of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to move forward on regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Such regulatory actions will carry severe consequences for the U.S. economy, including America's farmers and ranchers, through increased input costs and international market disparities.

Both the current and past Administrations have acknowledged that the CAA is not the appropriate vehicle for establishing greenhouse gas policy. However, this EPA finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare will trigger CAA regulatory actions such as application of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, New Source Performance Standards, and provisions of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V programs, essentially establishing greenhouse gas policy through the CAA by default. The compliance costs for these CAA programs would be overwhelming as millions of entities, including farms and ranches, would be subject to burdensome CAA regulations. While EPA has attempted to craft a "tailoring rule" to ease such a burden, our experience in these matters is that attempts to administratively relax environmental requirements are routinely challenged in court.

The EPA rule itself claims to establish only a weak, indirect link between greenhouse gases and public health and welfare, going so far as to admit there are uncertainties over the net, direct health impacts of the greenhouse gases it is attempting to regulate. Further, EPA Administrator Jackson recently acknowledged that unilateral actions by the United States would have no material impact on global warming. China and India, two of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, continue to reject any verifiable reduction measures. Without an effective international agreement on emission reductions, unilateral action by the U.S. only serves to further damage our economy and encourage businesses to relocate. EPA's finding puts the agricultural economy at grave risk based on allegations of a weak, indirect link to public health and welfare and despite the lack of any environmental benefit.

For these reasons, we strongly support your efforts to prevent EPA from moving forward with its endangerment finding and urge Senate approval of your resolution.

Sincerely,

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