Speaking in Houston at a national meeting of the American Chemistry Council on Thursday, EPA deputy administrator W. Michael McCabe said this rule stems from President Bill Clinton's initiative to streamline environmental regulations without sacrificing environmental protection. The final rule combines 16 existing federal air rules applying to synthetic organic chemical manufacturers, reducing monitoring, record keeping and reporting burdens for industry - without reducing any environmental protection. Synthetic organic chemical manufacturing entails the production of hundreds of high volume organic chemicals made from certain petrochemical raw materials. VOCs contribute to the formation of ground level ozone, or smog. Air toxics are pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health problems such as birth defects or reproductive effects.
Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that fill with water during fall and winter rains.
The pools have been destroyed or disturbed by urban development and agricultural conversion, alterations of vernal pool hydrology, off road vehicle activity, livestock overgrazing and other land uses. This policy represents another step in ensuring that the endangered species program is grounded in the best available science. The joint policy states that controlled propagation may be used to prevent extinction, maintain genetic health, and hold plants and animals on a temporary basis until threats to their habitats are removed. Controlled propagation is also a useful tool for establishing new, self sustaining populations, supplementing or enhancing wild populations and holding offspring of listed species for part of their development if suitable natural conditions do not exist, the agencies said. The policy will help direct captive breeding by zoos, botanic gardens and other private institutions.