Friday, January 23, 2009

Poke At A Pig

We have a new President and a new Congress but some of the absurdities from the previous will haunt us for some time to come. I'm wondering how Lisa Jackson, new head of the EPA is going to handle things like the following.

The National Pork Producers Council has filed suit against the EPA. Not the kind of pork Senators add to bills so those like Robert Byrd can have every structure in the state named after them, but pork as in pig.

It seems there is a rule now in effect that requires livestock producers to call state and local emergency response authorities with estimates of livestock emissions then verify the estimates in writing!

Now, I'm not a farmer, but I am assuming there is a way to make these estimates. Ms. Jackson has degrees in chemical engineering from Tulane and Princeton (not exactly farm country) so she may know how these things are done. I'd really like to know how you estimate emissions from your pigs and cows! And why do emergency response authorities need to know? Are they afraid pig farmers are going do declare gas warfare on the citizenry?

Failure to comply can cost up to $25,000 a day! I suppose it's a way to generate funds to start refilling the coffers after the bailout drainage, but really.

It would seem the rush to green up the country is enough to make livestock producers blue!

4 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

I guess you just make a guess and expect them you check your guess if they don't believe it.

Word Tosser said...

can we have one in the Congress too? surely there is a lot of gas there as well

John Dwyer said...

I think you missed the point. Bush has left the building and comedians are in a tailspin since their best material is gone. This is a no-cost bailout (at least for the govt) for comedians. I sure hope Leno hasn't missed this.

Rinkly Rimes said...

The pig in the illustration looks pretty prolific! (And it looks as though it's enjoying it too!)