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Charter Communications Support cspan as a Public Service. A lot with these other television providers. Giving you a front row seat to democracy. The head of the Environmental Protection agency talks about the biting ministration Environmental Policies at the western governance association. During his remarks he highlights issues from wildfires to water security. From boulder colorado, this is about 50 minutes. Welcome to the 2023 western Governors Association annual meeting here in beautiful boulder, colorado crete my name is jack waldorf i have the honor and privilege of serving the executive director for wga. Its your first meeting, it is mind too so we will figure it out together. Have you been to an annual meeting before, welcome back and perhaps you could give us rookies a few pointers but we are here thisiv week. It is wonderful so somebody friends in the west convene here at the theater which has a rich history since it opened back in 1906. Over the years this entertainment venue andnt the heart captivating audiences with silent fells, operas, musicals and hosted a number of notable public figures by specific at Franklin Delano roosevelt back in 1920 and johnny cash performance in 1997. We can probably say wga can be added to the list. How about that. Our beautiful host cityho bould, colorado a special unique is in the western city in our footprint. Home to the university of colorado psychotic buffalo mascot, i am an olympic boulders best known for Technology Hub for its flavorful variety of teas and numerous outdoor activities. And of course that malt which is just outside the door. As you probably noticed are wellknown for their casual comfortable outdoor attire. Their enthusiasm for the outdoors is only matched by the love for bookstore, supers, dedicated. Kindly times this week you here on your left. Not be surpriseded if the one serve your copies to phds one and arrow engineering one in buddhist studies. Not only can get in great cup of coffee and having an interesting conversation that is boulder were certainly glad to be here. Lets get to the real reason we are gathered here this week. Debbie ga continues to be proud tersely Bipartisan Organization with the sole purpose is to serve as an instrument for the governors for policy Development Information exchange ocean and critical to western states wj is built on the collective action and bipartisan discount leadership of our governors and they adhered to in order to make meaningful and lasting change for the western region. As westerners we are grateful personir leadership by to thank our governors and the today for being here this week as that lead us in discussing important timely topics affecting the west. This week ranges from artificial intelligence, grassLand Management Outdoor Recreation and advanced use of water data. We will also discuss the key beneath our feet which examines the development and deployment of Geothermal Technology across the west. While representing just a snapshot of the numerous issues affecting the west we look forward to hearing from our panel of experts as they identify common challenges as well as offer Pragmatic Solutions with unique issues we face as westerners. Well also hear from a range of senior federal officials and business leadersin offering ther insights and perspectives on additional issues affect os wen states in our region. With a porch or a bus conversation between our governors and the speakers of the next several days. Debbie ga does not exist without the bipartisan support and leadership from a governors. We have a strong dedicated group of governors who check both their egos and Party Affiliation at the door. Without this, we would not be who we are up we would not do what we do. We remain grateful for the power they have us to advance a collective. As an organization debbie gas and entering a prize of many interconnected parts for each relying on one another and to advance the governors priorities. Also does not function without the tireless work in support of the governors staff members, especially our staff advisoryrn council. Thanks to each and every one of you for the tireless work you put into sound regional your support enables the account was debbie can activities and events put on our behalf of the governor over the course of the year we are extremely grateful for you and your continued partnership. I also did take a moment to acknowledge the fantastic debbie ga staffas ive had the pleasure to work with on a daily basis since i started in january. The new guy in the office they welcome into the family with open ours and have been nothing short of amazing as i get my footing. Theis professionalism, enthusiam and devotion to service and advancing western parties is truly inspiring for the bottom of my heart thank you i to you. And finally want to acknowledge my predecessor. Who is also with us today. Jim, raise your hand. [applause] while jim transitions in his role director of thisan past january he is still serves our philanthropic arm so western Governors Foundation so thankfully he remains a key member wga now. For over a decade jim probably successfully led wga and under his leadership the organization accomplish critical policy victories while expanding its reach and influence but suffice it to say wga would not be as strong a position it is today without a steadfast leadership and adherence to the core mission of the organization. Those sure are some big boots to fill, jim so thank you for that. So might tell me this past january when i took over jack, just dont screw it up. So no pressure, thanks for that but you know who you are who said it. So i ladies and gentlemen please join me and recognize iff forer in front of the west the great jim for his Outstanding Service to debbie ga in the west. [applause] [applause] and now, please allow me the honor introduce our distinguished westernin governo. As a physician doctor josh green arrived is at recipient National Health Service Corps scholarship made the islands his home as it committed himself to the service of others. Practicing medicine and a rural underserved area and the hawaiian items doctor green saw firsthand the challenges facing many residents including limited access to healthcare, lack of Affordable Housing in high rates of Mental Illness in the nation. As a member of the Community Help to heal he took his experience and expertise as a physician and ran for office in order to effect meaningful and lesson change for his neighbors. Serving about the state house of representatives of the state senate, doctor green was instrumental expanding Health Care Coverage for children with autism, advancing statesupported Cancer Research efforts in creating a statewide Trauma Health system. Later as Lieutenant Governor he continued to utilize his medical expertise to overseeing states efforts and responsibility. Sworn in as governor december of 2022 governor greenness work tirelessly is six plus months in office to continue to address health disparities, among hawaiians while expanding access infor affordable across the stae it is an honor to welcome introduce hawaiians governor the honorable josh green. [applause] so a Third Generation rancher governor brad a little nosy by the hard work and has taken that when what he has worked on the ranch. Through his professional political career but have just spent a few days of the governor in idaho earlier this week on the annual trail ride hosted by the Idaho Cattle Association i witnessed firsthand the simple horse impressive horse riding skills but what struck me most was his love for the land and strong desire to ensure which are reap the benefits of sound Conservation Program that you got festive about his stories on the right of cover would be the better storyteller quite frankly. Well save that for another time. So plaster will servingti as chr the governorov oversaw the workg plans work in Communities Initiative is interrelationship between Natural Resources the communities that depend on. Ill try to collect on new challenges facing Rural Communities related to workforce and economic vitality. Not exclusively a western concert and so western challenge the government Little Initiative to equip the western states of the tools and resources e needed to address this evolving regional challenge. First election 2018 and reelected second term last november government little has worked tirelessly to reduce red tape that stifle smart effective government will making historic investments in both infrastructure and education. Something tells me his sheep and cattle herding skills have helped him an immense of oases navigated the idaho state legislature. But i will let him go into specifics on that. Im proud to introduce idahos 33rd governor the honorable brad a little. [applause] poured into a proud military family governor joe lombardo lived around the world until his father was stationed just outside lasas vegas. After 10 the university of nevada las vegas the governor served in the Army National guard during the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police department where he served 26 years and held nearly every position in the department as he climbed the ranks. He was sent elected twice the sheriff of clark county nevadas largest county in 2014 and 2018 respectively a sharpie oversaw 1. 3 billion budget also been responsible for over 6000 employees to safetyet the county residents will protecting tens of millions of visitors who flock to las vegas on annual basisua. Certainly not a small task. Sworn in and governor engendered this year the governor continues to them by the protect and serve a model from his Law Enforcement experience and apply that to his role as governor. During his first legislative sessiondu as governor schools ad students say for it while performing and streamlining Government Services to better serve. His leadership saw historic levels of funding education for both k12 and higher ed help to bolster the workforce and build more capacity through supporting those suffering from Mental Illness. Please welcome the 31st governor of the great state of nevada the honorable joel embargo. [applause] growing up on a ranch governor mark gordon of the vote of hard work, integrity, importance of working together from ait t youg age she leads a state of wyoming with those in mind. Over the course of his personal, professional political life he understood having deeplynd held beliefs and a desire to achieve consensus are not mutually exclusive ideals. Not only does a governor possessed tools like grits, perseverance, toughness, he is also help support maintain his families cattle ranch. He also has a Strong Financial that has allowed him to transform modernize the wyoming state portfolio at which number one ranking United States number three in the world ranking for transparency and accountability while serving a state treasurer. Armed himic skill set for success when he ran and was elected governor in 2018. Since become the state ceo he has led efforts to diversify wyomings economy across sectors of technology, energy, agriculture, to name a few. He has continued to be a strong advocate in support of wyomings National Resources sates Education System have the resources it needs to effectively train wyoming future workforce. Reelected in 2022 with 79 of the vote represented largest margin of victory in the States History for any gubernatorial candidate, governor gord continues to lead by values and dedication to getting stuff done. Please welcome wyomings 33rd governor and vice chair of the western Governors Association the honorable mark golder gordon. [applause] growing up here in boulder, colorado governor jarrett has it not for ideas and thinking on the cutting edge both in business as the policy domain. As a result of his entrepreneurial talents and culture transformers greeting card business by taking it online which at one point i found out was a sixth most visited website on the internet during the holiday season. By age 38 the governor had launched three Successful Companies including one of the worlds leading online retailers. Despite his entrepreneur successes he never wavered in his commitment to Public Service making lives better for current and future colorado in spirit at ageur just 25 through his hat in the ring s for state board of education to make sure children have early access to highquality education. At age 33 selected to congress where he served five terms. Wellrespected known policy among his Congressional Colleagues he continued to advocate for a nation students and teachers among other key issues like the environment and access to affordable healthcare. When first elected colorados governor in 2018 he continued his work to support colorado students by work with legislature to advance record investments k12 for the first time in the States History offering universal fullday kindergarten starting next fall. Last summer with governor became wga chair he launched the heat beneath our Feet Initiative i mentioned earlier and this was said effort and ensuring the Initiative Success to highlight current future impact Geothermal Technology in colorado and across the west. And his enthusiasm and stewardship will serving as wga chair but with that i honor gingers colorados 43rd governor chair of the western Governors Association and our host heree in boulder the honorable jared polis. [applause] thank you jack. In addition to have the privilege of being able to host western governors in your state, which as chair i chose my hometown of boulder, governor gord it will be hosting us in jackson hole next november. The other two perks of being chair, one issue get to identify your own initiative. We worked very closely with wga on developing heat beneath your feet sprayed thank you to those of you who sponsored those activities. We had 10 Events Virtual and person across the west learning from what states are doing with regard to geothermal electric, hawaii 20 of their grid. Doctor green in utah 1 in california at 4 . But also heating and cooling systems. We are proud of colorado at mesa of cebitro about that when the few universities in Grand Junction one 100 heated and cooled to geothermal by the fight at work as we get a little gavel that has our name onn it. With which we could take gavel in the official session of the western Governors Association. Welcome everybody to boulder. [applause] on behalf of the governors assembled here today we are so grateful youve chosen to spend some time with those of the next few days. Great speakers lined up. Heaywell be hearing from michal regan shortly, deputy secretary david turco is the point person on not just geothermal a whole host of opportunities. Executives from microsoft and Franklin Templeton that ceo of vail resorts. Really a vibrant discussion about the economic drivers of thejuju west, how we can come together republicans and democrats on what is important for our states. And really show the nation that we Work Together and what we need to do to make our lives better but we are engaged on topics we all face interstates in different ways. Rural healthcare, healthy ecosystems and grasslands in egg and Governors Initiative was working lands with that reauthorization of the egg bill this a lot of important discussions about the role western governors can play. A little thing called water which has a different dimension than us a dry states as it might in washington, oregon or alaska. It is certainly top of mind discussion item from a Colorado River t basin state of course fr many other states across the west. Outdoor recreation and other economic driver of the west. And of course the initiative i focus on this last year, geothermal energy. He spent the last year examining the opportunities for geothermal. The barriers to it. How we can better deploy with reliable, especially for a grid with increasingly renewable energy. And i want to thank my fellow western governors and their teams and all the staff at wga who sponsors the collaborators for the great work on heat beneath our feets. Youll be getting a copy of the report i think tomorrow and getting previews to it today. As we dont the Initiative Leave launch i hope it does the next couple of days we really learn, discuss, see tactical Common Sense Solutions the problems are states haves that we can solvet better by working together. We continue to Work Together there is so much that we can accomplish. I want to thank all of you for being here. Please have a great a meaningful time here in my hometown of boulder, colorado. To kick t things off it is my great pleasure to introduce our first guest speaker. The administrator of the Environmental Protection agency. As the administrator of the epa michael is tasked with protection of human health and the environment. That includes leading the federal limitation on water at Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water act. Obviously now with the recent Supreme Court action on waters in the u. S. Are also eager to hear about the path forward with the path to planning around ewaterburys former secretary of North Carolina department of environment your qualities its great to have somebody with that state perspective but ill not a western state. Hoping to make the calls of the national level. He is no stranger to the relationship between states and the federal government. He successfully implementing laws that have the noblest of intent to lead to clean air and clean water for people across our country. With its wildfires affecting air quality as we are no strangers to across the american west. Watershed issues hurting farmers, Water Treatment facilities the cooperation between federal and staten governments and epa is more important than ever before stroe relationship between the epa and our states is important to all governors and with that its my honor to turn it over to administrator read. [applause] good afternoon. Thank you, governor, for that kind introduction and the theme and partnership something i truly believe in andev i want to thank the governors for having me today and all of you being here. Its great toyo be here and as administrator i had the pleasure of traveling all across the country visiting towns and cities both large and small many of those right here in these western states and theres one thing thats been clear to me since day number one, and that is statelevel collaboration and partnership are necessary if we are going to reach and achieve our goals. I know for certain the most effective way to craft resilient and Lasting Solutions is to bring all stakeholders to the table and examine all issues from every single angle and strive to reach consensus. Its great to be surrounded by executives. They are where the rubber meets the road. These executives and leaders know the committees more intimately than the federal government ever could. After all you are the eyes and ears on the ground. We need to hear from you and lean on you and more importantly continue to Work Together to make this country as great as it can be. Persistent challenges like Climate Change, economic challenges, and environmental injustice require we leave all stones unturned no stones unturned and to invest in every single committee across the country and the wastewater and stormWater Infrastructure the single largest federal investment in Water Infrastructure in United States history and to ensure that this level of funding reaches the committee communities that needed the most we are working closely with our state partners with many of these resources through very highly successful programs that have been existent prior to the infrastructure bill. The Inflation Reduction Act will protect Public Health and create the communities while accelerating the work coming to the state agency to support both new and existing programs. Both implementations are certainly massive undertakings and its an opportunity like weve never seen before. Unlike before, we have some resources and now we can build upon our partnerships and relationships to ensure that we are all working for the people. I want to be clear with you today and the governors that share the stage with me we are going to work shoulder into shoulder and as many of you grapple with the issues in the communities whether it be wildfires that force families to abandon their homes and livelihoods or whether its important that you know that we are with you. We are with you. Our nation is carefully navigating some of the greatest environmental and economic challenges ofch our lifetime bui am reminded as i have these conversations with the governorv not just today about in prior and hopefully in the future that we are all in this together. Each of you have a very valuable role and perspective. I was the secretary of the environment in North Carolina the great state of North Carolina and i enjoyed my time there but i also recognized that North Carolina and nevada are different states. New york and california, oregon, wyoming are different states and this is why w theres not a onesizefitsall attitude. This is an attitude about partnership and every community. And i have some great examples we know that methane leaks present a host of issues and can impactct Public Health and local economies but leaders like the governor grisham have instituted standards that led to significant decreases. The teams worked closely with the governor grisham to harness Available Technology so we can identify and stop these dangerous leaks and the governor of wyoming demonstrated how Carbon Capture technology can be used both faithfully and responsibly. With the leadership to craft a successful Clean School Bus program under the governors leadership colorado launched a 65 Million Dollar Clean School Bus program that serves as a model for how to effectively implement a Similar Program on a national scale. We have 5 billion to electrify the school buses across this country and colorados leadership will be instrumental in helping to design the program. These are onlyy a few examples f how we can lean on each other to make impactful change across an array of issues. There is no doubt that we will have differences. Theres no doubt that there are significant challenges facing the country and the world, but we need you. We are relying on partners to Work Together and im incredibly proud of the work that weve done during this administration andan proud of the partnerships that we forced so thank you for having me and i look forward to a few questions. [applause] starting off, administrator, the challenges with your agency in particular is how we kind of move from conflict to collaboration. You and i met earlier about this today but how do we focus on making sure that itsur not abot compliance for compliance sake or paperwork but its about working together to make the air cleanerge and or water cleaner d making sure that in many ways the paperwork that can sometimes in. That progress can be minimized by working together in collaboration . Thank you for that question and it is about collaboration and transparency. I think as i said before i was a former state regulator, and i can say that the states are more agile and like to move more quickly. None of us really like the democracy and to a certain extent the clean water act and Clean Air Act constrain us in certain ways but it doesnt limit the ability to be creative so as we pursue these solutions i believe we must continually begin conversations. We have a state secretary, governors, myself, regional administrators. Theres no reason we cant figure out w how to get beyond these issues. We have to put the bureaucracy to the side and we have to look at the solutions at this level and then i think we have to think about how to forge ahead andpr protect our environment while avoiding a lot of the litigation that is out there more than ever. Governor gordon . Thank you, governor and administrator. Its wonderful to have you. Nobody mentioned the fact that he is a big fisherman so welcome to a big part of the world we look forward to doing that with you. To take a look at forest fires for example, a complex set of circumstances. A fire that started in a different agencies to respond to it. Of course its shown up in a fire retardant sand there is a cleanup that comes up with it. The question i have is as we look to how states can provide a nexus to help coordinate and as you mentioned the partnership but also the partnership between agencies and a forest fire you might of the Land Management and Forest Service and your agency, state agencies, all these multiple jurisdictions. Have you got a thought on ways we can simplify the way that works and can states provide a sort of nexus for that . I believe they can provide a nexus. An example the first time we sat down to have a conversation about the contentious issue its weve been tackling these issues with a promise by the way that hes going to take me fishing and im going to take him up on that. I think leadership starts at the top and president bidenst said from day number one that the entire cabinet would Work Together so i would say the first way we are starting to answer that question is the usda and secretary vilsack and everyone sitting to down and we are really talking through and at the department of interior having conversations about how do we reduce the bureaucratic headache, the whack a mole so to speak but having the former experience i had i think that there are areas where it makes sense for state agencies to serve as that hub and we have to have enough grace to say we are note conceding our authority by relying on the states to help us get the job done and so i think that you are exactly right we have to depend on the state agencies to do a little more coordinating but also we have to extend a little bit more trust and i think as we begin to look at how we invest these billions of dollars i think it absolutely makes sense that we invest in these states and have you all running on where the solutions arewh and how the dollars should be administrated. Its important the communities get the resources and we benefit not just ecologically but economically as well. Thank you, governor. First, a hollow from hawaii for helping us through the crisis. This is an offthewall question that i had recently from constituents and im curious if theres a position on whats happening in japan and hiroshima and how that may or may not ever touch our own a federal government and what we might share with our constituents. In the pacific we have a closer proximity to some of these other environmental challenges and im just curious if that is the kind of thing that falls into your portfolio. You and i were talking earlier. In the past three years about being in this position ive actually been to nine, ten Different Countries japan being one ofou them and weve had a relationship on the environmental side to think about cleanup and also prevention. There are a lot of lessons learned. It will never be whole and so when we think about the energy policy, when we think about the investments and our international relationships, its definitely something that we continue to partner on to explore both environmental and Technical Advice on how we move forward and also it underpins conversations ive had with a numberer of you about international competition. So as we think about the Energy Choices whether goods advanced nuclear or Carbon Capture storage we are looking to perfect those things domestically so we can export that International Think we want to have a globally Competitive Edge on all of our counterparts because that means bigger business and work for the United States and a stronger Environmental Protection framework as well. If i can also talk about it, you live by the legal constraints and also we appreciate your willingness to show flexibility with states even when that faces challenges in the courts and we stand with you and encourage you to show as muchge as you can but beyond tht what are the prospects for legislative changes that would allow for more flexibility that lead to cleaner air and any opportunitiesto to go back and seek language that is shall we say us outut of date than many f the language that we find ourselves stuck with . Governor, i think you might be in a better position to answer that. You were a member of the body once that appointed that. I was hoping you would be more optimistic. [laughter] despite a lot of the political rhetoric in washington, d. C. , i can say proudly that we have offered what we can to the legislative process that is Technical Advice. Any legislation that is promoted whether it be permitting, transformation, thinking about streamlining a lot of the interpretation of the rules to give to some of these solutions, im all for it. Again, i had the opportunity to serve as a director for the secretary in North Carolina we had a democratic governor in a super majority Republican House and we still found ways to get things done. We are definitely willing to do that. Es theres Better Outcomes whether you are republican or do a good, liberal or conservative. Theres Better Outcomes and a generally speaking those would involve providing your agency with more flexibility rather than less to work with states to get results one of the interesting challenges because i absolutely agree it is less prescriptive it allows for more grace by the agencies that are meant to administer them but how can we avoid the temptation to see regulatory treatment beyond what the law actually prescribes and im curious having worked in the state position and certainly having felt that sort of toad and push from the federal government what are the things that we can do to help both the agency and congress understand how to prescribe those limits and how to avoid letting the bureaucratic creed interfere with progress . I think that we have to continue to have these conversations. I will give a good example just shy i had the opportunity to sit down with the governor and look at what was going on around methane regulation. I would argue that we are about to finalize one of the most innovative regulations epa ever had and the entire design structure was conversing with governor grisham and other industries and understanding that regulations are technology standards. What we dont want to do is pretty standard in place that codifies technology in a two to five you window when you have so many technologies evolving so drastically we put these in place to allow for as much innovation and entrepreneurship as possible and you and i talked about this to a certain extent the law prescribes i should be agnostic to some of the sources and focus on the Emissions Reductions and allow for as many technologies and Business Models to achieve these goals and was trying to do that across multiple regulations if we can do that that not only provides flexibility to the states, it provides tremendous flexibility to the industry to pursue excellence while not being prescribed on how to do that i wanted to get your thoughts on permitting chemicals and where do you think we are going to be having discussions in the next couple of years . That is a tough issue and its one that i have spent a lot of personal time with sec. Austin of dod and secretary vilsack of usda. Obviously we want, all of us want to do our very best to protect the public. At the same time, we want to be sure that we understandat the science and understand the technologies that are available to render these persistent compounds while thinking about how we alter putting these chemicals out to the environment. Theres a tremendous balance, and i will tell you that we are pursuing a Drinking Water standard, very transparent in that there was about 10 million in the bipartisan infrastructure lawra that is designed to help s as we design these standards to make sure that we dont leave our small rural Water Systems stranded with some of these huge challenges. We are also looking at a setting cleanup levels for some of these companies that have polluted our lands and waters, but also holding the government accountable fornt their role in the pollution of these lands and waters as well. So this is a longstanding issue. I think youve seen some of these Companies Just settled law suits and they recognize their role in thisth and what we wanto do is try to match the evolution of these Business Models with our desire to set standards but also do it in a way that we are promoting the most advanced technology that we can. At the end of the day, no one in this country should trust whether their Drinking Water is safe coming from the tap that is their goal. Governor little. Thank you. [inaudible] no one in the country should question if there Drinking Water is safe. Administrator, the recent Supreme Court ruling on epa kind of turned upside down some of the rules that were being written. Is epa going to redraft some of those rules inoi light of the nw Supreme Court decision . We absolutely well. I think i was as administrator, if i were secretary come in my four years i had the challenge of trying to finish the implementation of the obama world and begin the implementation of the trump rules so as a state agency i was sort ofcy pulling my hair out at the pendulum swing and the regulations,m so what we attempted to do was have a more balanced approach as we designed oural regulation, recognizing tt designing the regulation of this magnitude takes around two to three years, so we wanted to get started. I believe that we have a framework in place that obviously the Supreme Court has weighed in s on and has given us more specific directions van the agencies received, so what we are going to do over the next coming months is to codify the new language of the Supreme Court and begin to move forward with the regulation thatth i believe will provide more certainty for our farmers and for those who are trying to protect the most precious wetlands. This is the most prescriptive direction that this agency has received from the Supreme Court and whether we agree or disagree i think the reality is that this program has not had at this level of direction in the past 20, 30 years. I would just ask remember the states out there when you are redoing those rules so perhaps we can tell you where there might be some pitfalls and difficulty in enforcing them and implement and those rules. We would appreciate that very much. Absolutely. I think we will have that flexibility of implementation build and i talked to secretary vilsack about that. I do think the Supreme Court was very prescriptive. We have our marching orders and one of the things i pledged from day number one will follow the law to make sure that we do that. Governor gordon. Thank you. Following up on that i think one of the concerns that western states in particular Energy Producing states somethings worry about is and something western governors feel very strongly about we want to be able to control quality of water in our states to the best protection. What i think gets complicated is when parts of the clean water act are used two in some way affect the development in a neighboring state and that is the rule of the federal government, so frame this as a question and i wont say wouldnt you agree, but it does seem to me that one of the challenges for the federal governmentth is how do we allow for the states to be able to regulate resources within the confines ofit their state and ao be a referee in the event that they overstep, and i hate to use new york as an example but new york is an example using 401, 404 provisions to deny access for pipelines across the state to provide natural gas and this has caused the governor to think i have to get my natural gas from russia or what else can i do. You sort of put your finger on the exact struggle. I will start with saying i could completely see leaving the state of North Carolina that it be almost impossible to design a water in the u. S. Rule that would meet the needs of North Carolina and nevada. Its just almost impossible to do. I think that when you start to look at how certain states want to use certain provisions in the Clean Air Act this is where the cooperative federalism and all these ideas kick in. Its a fine line when the federal government tries to step in ande tell a state what to do or how to do it with the delegated authority so i think thats where we have to have these interstate conversations at the gubernatorial agency level because these economic decisions, theseec environmental decisions cut across a lot of agencies and issues and at the end of the day if we all look at thesesu issues in isolation we e just going to find ourselves in court, and you and i know there are people on both sides ready to litigate on any decision thats made of the state and federalt level and thats why really to say we are in this together. If we could figure out ways to work stronger as federally and state agencies i believe we could be more successful and withstand litigation a lot better. Governor green. Thank you. Another kind of attached question would be plastics and we talked briefly about this. We are wrestling with some plasticst questions now in the Pacific Ocean that of course is going to affect perhaps all of us it just depends on how you view it. How does the epa approach questions like that where obviously we are going to have greater concerns as a state on a certain topic, but the entirety of the nation into some of the other International Communities may contribute to what ends up in our environment in hawaii or california or im not even sure how others are dealing with plastics. How do you address those kind of problems . Since the beginning of this administration, you know, ive really focused on looking at providing more guidance around recycling and plastics in general. You know, as i traveled the world iel think i shared with yu young people are just as energized about plastics and ocean pollution as they are Climate Change and Global Warming so its a serious issue internationally but domestically what weve tried to do is design frameworks and incentives because theres a Market Solution here toth address plastics and i think that if we can work and design the right infrastructure in the states, the right interstate across state market incentives we can pull together some fantastic plastic reduction strategies we just have to invest in those areas and thats an area of the country we havent done as well. We also see the state departmt negotiating international agreementsdede and so talking wh young people about plastics, ive talked with fossil fuel companies about plastics. We recognize there is a marketplace and opportunity we just have to figure out where we are going to start. Give us another month or so and most of the western governors will be allfi about wildfire. Theres two things that are going on. One is air quality issues for prescribed burns, which if you look at the map from the big fires both carbon and mercury it mercury itis a huge number but l god did it so theres nothing we can do aboutn it but its also what we use in a prescriptive fire retardant area about how important that is particularly as we try to stop some of these massive fires that are basically climate changing events and anything that restricts that use i hope you look at it through a wide lens with the unintended consequence of either restrictions on prescribed burns were prescriptions on modern retardants what w that will have because we are going to get to a point in time even as wet as it is and is beautiful in colorado, these failures you and your fellow cabinet members will be coming out here probably with the president to talk about these fires and what we do on prescribed burns with modern and effective retardants is critical to stopping those big catastrophic fires so anything you can do to help us would be very welcome. Your prediction has already happened when we had to come out as a federal government to think aboutgo how we help our fellow states and secretary vilsack had a lot of conversations about this it doesnt make sense to restrict tools in a toolbox that protect human lives so as we continue to fight these wildfires and thinkth about howe manage the forests so we dont have more of these wildfires epa has been working handinhand to think about carveouts so we dont restrict their ability but also think about how to codify permits and other acts that preventnt the usda from being sd by outside parties dont worry about those guys. [laughter] this is something thats definitely been at the o front f our minds and we are with you on that. On behalfth of the western Governors Association thank you so much for joining us today we appreciate the insight and look forward to future collaboration with your agency. Thank you. Thank you so much and thanks to everyone who makes this program possible and to

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