EPA loophole for ‘glider’ trucks OK’d on Pruitt’s last day
On his last day before resigning amid ethics scandals U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt granted a loophole to allow dealers to sell new trucks with old engines built into them that can pollute at as much as 55 times the levels those covered by modern emission controls, the New York Times reports .
The loophole has been promoted by Fitzgerald Glider Kits, a Crossville company that has given heavily to Republican U.S. Rep. Diane Black’s gubernatorial campaign. Black has traveled on the company’s private plane to attend campaign events.
House approves bill to end vehicle emissions testing in five TN counties
A bill seeking to do away with vehicle emissions testing in five Tennessee counties was overwhelmingly approved Monday evening by the state House and now goes to the Senate, reports the Times Free Press.
Harwell joins push to stop vehicle emissions testing in TN
House Speaker Beth Harwell, who is running for governor, Thursday threw her support behind legislation that would end vehicle emissions testing in the six counties where it’s now required, reports the Times Free Press.
The bill (HB1782) is sponsored by two Hamilton County legislators, Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, and Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson. Besides Hamilton and Davidson County, which Harwell represents, the bill would also apply to Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties.
TN meets EPA particle pollution standards statewide
News release from Department of Environment and Conservation
NASHVILLE – The entire state of Tennessee is now in compliance with federal air quality health standards for particle pollution, also known as particulate matter or PM2.5.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday in the Federal Register finalized its official redesignation of all of Anderson, Knox, Blount and Loudon counties and the remaining part of Roane County as “attainment,” which means the areas now meet federal particle pollution standards. These areas were the last remaining areas in Tennessee to achieve the designation.
EPA faults TDEC’s enforcement of pollution laws
In a recent audit, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found fault with the Department of Environment’s enforcement of anti-pollution laws, reports The Tennessean. The auditors say TDEC neglected to penalize permit holders despite months of documented pollution, failed to assess appropriate fines and didn’t report sewage overflows from major facilities, among other findings small and large.
In one instance, an unnamed facility received five warning letters in seven months for significant violations, but never received a formal penalty, according to the EPA. Another exceeded its limits for polluting into a state waterway during a 10-month period, but the state didn’t take any enforcement action.
“TDEC is relying on carrots but no sticks,” said Scott Banbury, conservation program coordinator of the Tennessee chapter of the Sierra Club. “They have adopted this philosophy that working with the company and voluntary compliance is better.”
…Officials from TDEC declined to be interviewed for this story but issued a statement saying they “appreciate” the EPA’s oversight as “an opportunity to receive constructive feedback on our programs.”
The statement continued: “But we don’t always agree on all of its findings. TDEC’s enforcement efforts continue to make positive, profound and lasting impacts on clean water and clean air in Tennessee.”
…In their written responses to the EPA findings, state officials said they were already working on enforcement orders for some of the facilities, but they just hadn’t finalized the orders at the time of the federal review.
