Resolution-environmental protection agency regulations.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL SENATE
JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
0006

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1, SENATE

SIXTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
2011 GENERAL SESSION

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to
limit air quality regulation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

WHEREAS,
the EPA has proposed or is proposing numerous regulations in the area of air quality and regulation of greenhouse gases that are likely to have major effects on the economy, jobs and competitiveness in worldwide markets; and

WHEREAS, the EPA's regulatory
activity
regarding air quality has become known as the "train wreck" because of numerous and
overlapping
requirements and because of the potentially devastating consequences the regulatory activity may have on the economy; and

WHEREAS, there is concern that after cap and trade legislation failed in Congress the EPA is attempting to obtain the same results through the adoption of regulations; and

WHEREAS, EPA over-regulation is driving jobs and industry out of the
United States
; and

WHEREAS,
neither the EPA nor any other entity in the executive branch has undertaken a comprehensive study to determine the cumulative effect this regulatory activity will have on the economy including jobs and competitiveness in worldwide markets; and

WHEREAS, the EPA has not performed any comprehensive study of what benefits will result from its greenhouse gas
regulation in terms of impacts on global climate; and

WHEREAS, state agencies are routinely required to identify the costs of their regulations and justify those costs in light of the benefits of the regulations; and

WHEREAS, the EPA has identified "taking action on climate change and improving air quality" as its first strategic goal for the 2011-2015 time period,
therefore
the EPA should be required to identify the specific actions it intends to take to achieve its goals and to assess the total costs of its actions; and

WHEREAS, the Wyoming Legislature supports continuing improvements in the quality of the nation's air and believes that those improvements can be made in a sensible fashion without damaging the economy so long as there is a full understanding of the cost of the regulations being implemented; and

WHEREAS, the primary goal of government a
t
the present time must be to promote economic recovery and to foster a stable and predictable business environment which will lead to the creation of jobs; and

WHEREAS, public health and welfare will suffer without significant new job creation and economic improvement because people with good jobs are better able to care for themselves and their families than the unemployed and because environmental improvement is only possible in a society that generates wealth.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
:

Section 1.

That the Wyoming Legislature calls on Congress to adopt legislation prohibiting the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas
emissions
including, if necessary, defunding EPA greenhouse gas regulatory activities.

Section 2.

That the Wyoming Legislature urges Congress to impose a moratorium on promulgation of any new air quality regulation by the EPA except to directly address an imminent health or environmental emergency for a period of at least two
(2)
years.

Section 3.

That the
Wyoming Legislature requests the
f
ederal government to undertake a study to identify all regulatory activity that the EPA intends to undertake in furtherance of its goal of "taking action on climate change and improving air quality" and specifying the cumulative effect of those regulations on the economy, jobs and American economic competitiveness. The study should be a multi-agency study drawing on the expertise of the EPA along with agencies and departments having expertise and responsibility in energy and the economy and should provide an objective cost-benefit analysis of the EPA's current and planned regulation related to air quality.

Section
4
.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

The transmittal to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation shall include a statement requesting the members of the delegation acknowledge receipt of this resolution.

Section 5.

That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House transmit a copy of this resolution to the Council of State Governments-WEST

and the chairmen of the agriculture and energy standing committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures
as the official position of the Wyoming Legislature.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

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