Dust Up About Dust

A federal regulatory proposal, that is being “fast tracked” to adoption, poses a new threat to the survivability of businesses in Montana, most especially agriculture, according to the Western Business Roundtable (WBRT). The new regulations will reduce the allowable level of dust particles in the air to one-tenth current standards – levels lower than those normally recorded in natural areas, such as Yellowstone National Park. If the regulations being proposed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are implemented, “It would bring economic development and growth to a halt,” said Jim Sims, President and CEO of WBRT, a coalition of companies and industry associations throughout the western states focused on encouraging investment, growth, and job creation in all economic sectors. The proposed regulation is based on a “flawed” study, according to Sims, one that broadens the definition of what is considered dust and raises the specter of health concerns. Since health is ostensibly at issue, regulatory solutions are considered “absolute” – in other words, economic impacts or technical feasibilities are not allowed to be considered in deciding whether a regulation should be adopted. The regulations could have a strong impact on a wide variety of industry, most particularly upon agriculture and cattle producers, said Sims, adding that it will take a concerted effort on the part of all industry throughout the western states to mitigate the proposal. The issue of dust is not as significant to less arid and windy eastern states...read more