US update
Published by MAC on 2007-06-29
US update
29th June 2007
The Democratic Party seems finally to be winning against the colossal environmental intransigence of the Bush regime.
Among measures passed last week in the House of Representatives were ones which strengthen the Superfund; postpone (though fail to halt) the mining of oil shales; and nullify a new "air toxics" rule which would have allowed some hazardous plants to continue emitting dangerous chemicals and metals.
For the first time in the country's history, the House formally recognised the reality of global warming, while a Senate panel has begun drawing up legislation to "cap" carbon emissions (to which the coal industry is the biggest single contributor).