WASHINGTON – A Senate battle this week over a new EPA rule aimed at reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants has U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and U.S. Sen. James Inhofe feuding.
Inhofe, R-Okla., wants to kill the Environmental Protection Agency rule through a resolution of disapproval that could come before the Senate this week.
Pryor, D-Ark., supports the rule but would double the time utilities have to comply – giving them six years to add equipment that will reduce mercury emissions by 90 percent.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is also backing that approach.
Inhofe, Pryor and Alexander aired their differences on the Senate floor Tuesday in separate speeches that maintained a gentlemanly decorum but left little doubt as to the chasm between their opposing views.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Inhofe was first on the floor in a speech that vilified the EPA rule as an attempt to kill coal and derided Pryor and Alexander for simply proposing to delay the death sentence.
“It doesn’t do any good to delay the death sentence on coal six years. Contracts will already be violated and the mines will be closed. So, I say to my colleagues that your constituents will see right through a cover vote,” Inhofe said. “The American people are pretty smart and they know that there is only one real solution – to stop, not just delay, EPA’s war on coal.”
Inhofe noted that he deeply regretted having to criticize two of his best Senate friends – particularly Pryor who attended the University of Arkansas with three of Inhofe’s children.
“He is considered part of our family. Really my brother,” he said.
Despite that sentiment, Inhofe said he could not stand by and allow Pryor and Alexander to save EPA’s effort to kill coal when it would cost fourth and fifth generation coal families their livelihood.
Pryor and Alexander went to the Senate floor afterward to rebut Inhofe’s claims and urge colleagues to vote against his resolution.
“I’m not trying to hurt the coal industry or kill jobs,” Pryor said.
Instead, Pryor said that he is trying to balance industry concerns with public health concerns. Giving utilities three additional years to comply with the rule is reasonable, he said.
As for Inhofe’s resolution, Pryor said that some legal experts claim it would allow utility companies to escape any emission regulations.
“It basically allows the utility companies to pollute at will,” he said.
Alexander also spoke on the Senate floor taking issue with Inhofe for questioning the sincerity of his and Pryor’s effort.
Alexander said that his proposal was not offered as “cover” for senators looking to shield themselves from claims that they are anti-coal.
“Ever since I’ve been in the U.S. Senate I have introduced legislation to clean up the air in Tennessee because we don’t want the Great Smoggy Mountains we want the Great Smokey Mountains,” Alexander said.
A vote on Inhofe’s resolution could come this week but there is no timetable for a vote on giving utilities more time to comply with the regulation.
Pryor and Alexander said they also plan to send a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to use his administrative authority to extend the timetable.