New Kansas AG considers litigation against EPA

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By JOHN MILBURN - Dec 14, 2010 4:22 PM CT
The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General-elect Derek Schmidt said Tuesday his office would increase scrutiny of any environmental regulations the federal government proposes that might exceed federal authority.

Schmidt, a Republican who takes office in January, told The Associated Press that his administration would take a close look at any rules from the Environmental Protection Agency that might be harmful to Kansas.

"I think we're in a period of time here where it's going to be important for the states' legal representatives to keep an eye on the federal administrative process related to a whole range of environmental energy regulations and raise concerns when it's warranted," Schmidt said. "We're going to be paying very close attention."

While not saying specifically what action he might take, Schmidt didn't rule out joining a lawsuit a dozen states filed, challenging the EPA's findings on greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, constituted pollution and could be regulated by the EPA.

Schmidt and other critics fear new rules set to take effect Jan. 2 will require farmers and others in agriculture to make significant modifications to their operations to reduce emissions. They worry the cost of that may force some producers out of business and further drag on a struggling economy.

Read the full article at Bloomberg.

Copyright © 2010 Associated Press.