HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20

(By Delegates Walters, Harrison, Henderson, Louisos, Oliverio, Pulliam, Ryan, Adkins, Anderson, Ashcraft, Ashley, Beane, Bennett, Border, Burk, Ellis, Evans, Everson, Facemyer, Faircloth, Farris, Flanigan, Frederick, Huffman, Kiss, Leggett, McKinley, Miller, Nesbitt, Nichols, Nicol, Overington, Phillips, Prezioso, Proudfoot, Richards, Riggs, Sorah, Talbott, Trump, Vest, Wallace, L. White, L. Williams, S. Williams and Willison)

Endorsing a policy of "environmental parity" and a desire to ensure that state imposed environmental standards be no more stringent on the State's businesses and citizens than established by federal standards.

Whereas, The movement to save the physical environment of the State and country is important to all West Virginians; and

Whereas, There are thousands of individuals and organizations who provide direct scientific data towards the formulation of environmental standards at the United States Congress and with federal agencies; and
Whereas, These balanced and workable federal standards ensure competitive balance between industries located in different states within the nation; and
Whereas, West Virginia needs to improve its business climate towards maintaining and attracting industrial jobs, given its current 10.1 percent rate of unemployment; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby endorses a policy of "environmental parity" and a desire to ensure that state imposed environmental standards should not be more stringent on the State's businesses and citizens than established by federal standards, except where there exist scientifically supportable evidence for the tougher rule or program reflecting factors unique to West Virginia or an area within the State; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to Governor Gaston Caperton and all state agency commissioners and directors who administer environmental programs.