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EPA Starts Strong-Arming Infrastructure Businesses
Seven Valley sand and gravel companies, including Fisher Sand & Gravel, which was forced to shut down its south Phoenix asphalt plant, could be barred from bidding on federal projects or face fines because of dust-related violations found at their sites.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent violation notices to each company in July after conducting several inspections at sand and gravel plants and has offered to talk about the violations before determining penalties. State and county officials are battling with federal regulators who have threatened to withhold federal highway funds to force compliance with the Clean Air Act. C. William Nichols, president of Kilauea Crushers, said his company tries to comply with the various regulations and curb problems with dust. He added, though, that he feels some of the rules are excessive, especially in a period of low construction when mills are sometimes dormant. "We will have meetings with them and we get everything worked out," he said. "We do the best we can." "We take these violations very seriously," said Steve Trussell, executive director of the Arizona Rock Products Association trade group. "We'd only be hurting ourselves if we were to jeopardize that highway federal money." Trussell said he has been meeting with company representatives to discuss enforcement and compliance issues. He said the industry group worked closely with the county for at least eight years on the "interpretation" of Rule 316, and now it will need to start such talks with the EPA. Crap like this is why States are in near revolt against the feds. Just a decade ago, the EPA considered requiring AZ to "water down the desert" to reduce dust. Fortunately one of them had actually been out West and knew that this would be impractical. Though it took him a while to persuade his peers. Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-08-06 |
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