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February 27, 2009

Dust In The Wind. All We Are Is Dust In The Wind...

And according to the EPA we're liable for it, too

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Nothing says summer in Iowa like a cloud of dust behind a combine.

But what may be a fact of life for farmers is a cause for concern to federal regulators, who are refusing to exempt growers from new environmental regulations.

...Under rules imposed in 2006, rural areas would be kept to the same standards as urban areas for what the Environmental Protection Agency calls "coarse particulate matter" in the air.

...In 2006, the EPA determined larger particles in the air than previously thought were a danger to the public. The increased threshold covered air mixes that occur in rural areas.

EPA spokeswoman Cathy Milbourn said the changes are not just a matter of regulating dust. They serve the public's well-being and, regardless of whether someone lives in a rural or urban area, the threshold for unsafe levels of dust in the air must remain consistent nationally.

"It's health-based," she said. "We don't look at a particular industry. The goal is to protect public health."

So farmers plow their fields, it doesn't rain and the wind picks up. Break out your checkbooks, boys!

Absolutely insane, and yet another wonderful example of why we need radically less government.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at February 27, 2009 06:51 AM

Comments

The more government we have, the more it competes against itself, resulting in virtually no positive gain.

Posted by: Nobrainer at February 27, 2009 08:11 AM

Just wait until all the farmers go out of business because of this law and we have to import all our food from China.

(The thought of us becoming dependent on other nations to be able to feed ourselves scares me.)

Posted by: ricki at February 27, 2009 08:22 AM

Ricki, that's when I plant a garden in my backyard. Assuming that's not regulated as well. Which some federal idiot will try to do.

Nobrainer, you are absolutely right. I work for the feds, and I see it nearly every day.

Posted by: JeffS at February 27, 2009 09:39 AM

What, did the cows bring an OSHA lawsuit?

Posted by: nightfly at February 27, 2009 11:05 AM

We'll have to see what this turns out to mean in practice. At least some of the mitigation proposals ought to be good for a laugh.

I know we can't, but it would be nice if we could put a tariff on food exported to Washington D.C.

Posted by: Dave E. at February 27, 2009 12:24 PM