EPA WANTS TO DESTROY JOBS - OBAMA IN CAHOOTS WITH THEM

Dear Friend,  Just when you thought traffic congestion in Las Vegas could not get any worse -- new EPA regulations that lower the ozone standard threaten to make your commute even more unbearable. This fall, EPA will finalize a new regulation on ground-level ozone that will lower the current standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb) to a level of 65-70 ppb (or even lower). This proposal comes despite the fact that ozone emissions have been cut in half since 1980. The rule is projected to be the most costly regulation in EPA history -- reducing national GDP by $140 billion annually and eliminating 1.4 million jobs.   To make matters worse, the effect on transportation funding could lead to even worse gridlock in Las Vegas. If EPA's rule proceeds as planned, Las Vegas and the surrounding area would immediately violate the new standard. State officials have said that the rule is so stringent that they will be left with no means to comply. As a result, the federal government could then impose severe penalties, including withholding federal transportation funding for highway and public transit projects, such as: CC-215 Las Vegas Beltway widening (multiple projects) I-15 Project Neon (various phases) Boulder City Bypass (future I-11) I-15 Interchange at Starr Ave SR 160 - Blue Diamond Road widening I-15/215/Tropical Interchange improvements Las Vegas Monorail extension Implementation of new Bus Rapid Transit System To learn about this new standard and help raise awareness of this poorly understood, potentially major consequence of EPA's proposed rule, check out our new report: "Grinding to a Halt: Examining the Impacts of New Ozone Regulations on Key Transportation Projects."  Don't let EPA's proposed ozone standard bring your transportation funding grinding to a halt. Sincerely, Dan Byers Senior Director for Policy Institute for 21st Century Energy U.S. Chamber of Commerce