Lankford slams EPA mandates on Oklahoma

CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published 08-Mar-2011 

Congressman James Lankford (R-OK) criticized this week’s decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that rejects Oklahoma solutions and imposes what he characterized, in a press release sent to CapitolBeatOK, “irrational and costly environmental standards from the federal government.”

Lankford said, “It’s frustrating that at time when our economy is still struggling to pick up steam, the EPA keeps up their unabated campaign against proven, traditional energy producers.

“Families across the state and the country are already finding it difficult to make ends meet each month, and now their budget will be hit with a dramatic spike in utility costs to comply with these regulations. It is estimated that this latest ruling could total $1 billion in higher prices meaning thousands of dollars passed on to Oklahoma households.

“This assumption that only bureaucrats in Washington care about air and water quality is thoroughly false and arrogant. No one cares more about clean air and water in Oklahoma than Oklahomans. Our state officials produced a plan that takes serious steps to address environmental problems while not damaging economic growth. The EPA’s rejection of these state-based initiatives implies that the federal government values Oklahoma better than those who have lived and worked here their entire lives. I will continue to work with our state to push back on the EPA’s regulatory overreach and call on them to supply reliable data to support this irresponsibly-crafted unfunded mandate. Our families shouldn’t have to pay the price for the EPA’s costly and misguided policy initiatives.”