Utah Representative Mike Noel—a Republican—seeks to curb environmentalism in his state. He wants to restrict grassroots organizations from being able to bring suit, and he supports holding these organizations liable for any revenue lost.
Certainly, Rep. Noel’s attitude towards environmentalism is misplaced, because he fails to grasp the connection between environmental degradation, pollution, and unsustainable consumption of natural resources to our own welfare. Hence, the rise of environmentalism.
In fact, for 2008, the American Lung Association gave Utah a grade of “F” for particulate pollution and a grade of “C” for ozone pollution. Not surprisingly, Utah has failed to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards or NAAQS (see graph), which are “national standards for the ambient concentrations in air of different air pollutants designed to protect human health and welfare.” Nonetheless, Rep. Noel can’t find any utility in environmentalism, and I suppose the free markets will bring clean air to Utah. From KCPW:
The Utah House of Representatives approved a bill yesterday that environmental groups warn is unconstitutional and would restrict access to the courts. Rep. Mike Noel acknowledged his bill is a “preemptive strike” against environmentalists’ lawsuits.
“That’s the reason I came here seven years ago, to make some stands, and to stand up against this environmental, radical environmentalism, that’s driving everything that we do, that’s in every single phase of our lives,” Noel said. “Enough is enough.”
Noel’s bill requires a bond to be taken out before a group files for a stay or injunction against state agency actions, which could delay projects from being completed for years. It also holds these groups liable for any lost revenues tied to such delays. But the bill had lawmakers on both sides of the aisle concerned that it would make it nearly impossible for grassroots groups to be able to afford to file a lawsuit against the government. This concern spurred a failed amendment that would have made the bond optional. Taylorsville Republican Rep. Kory Holdaway said he’s not necessarily opposed to Noel’s attempt to reduce frivolous environmental lawsuits, but voted in favor of the amendment.
Rep. Mike Noel isn’t a fan of climate change either. He isn’t a fan of clean air either. From SLCC Globe Link:
Representative Mike Noel, a Republican from Kanab, has drafted a measure designed to pull Utah out of the Western Climate Initiative. This non-binding resolution was passed 51-19 in an attempt to show Governor Huntsman, that Utahns don’t feel they have a place in this Initiative.
The Western Climate Initiative is a group of seven states and four Canadian provinces.
This was “created to identify, evaluate, and implement collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region, focusing on a market-based cap-and-trade system,” (www.westernclimateinitiative.org)
. . .
While some representatives choose not to believe in human caused climate change, or fear government restrictions, most of northern Utah’s winter air is considered unhealthy.
As recent as February 23, the Bear River Health Department issued a “red” air quality warning for Cache County. On January 21st health advisories were put in place in Cache, Salt Lake, Davis, Utah and Weber counties. These advisories are designed to warn residents to avoid heavy exertion outside during bad air days. KSL.com
. . .
In December 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency released its air quality reports. Their findings show that seven counties in northern Utah were not in compliance with national air quality standards.
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