In the history of the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had the responsibility of enforcing environmental laws that are intended on protecting public health. Recent developments made by the EPA, however, have proposed new regulations that are overreaching the agency’s intended authority. Presently, it seems like they are abusing their power by pushing forward policies that bypass congressional consensus. These initiatives could potentially destroy millions of jobs, hurt the American consumer, and put the U.S. economy at a global disadvantage.

Recently, the Agency has surfaced what is known as the E15 waiver. The results of this waiver will potentially lead to many consumers suffering from a damaged engine in their vehicle. To make matters worse, the E15 is likely to void existing auto warranties as well. Furthermore, EPA’s drive to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) under the Clean Air Act has been described by Sen. Lisa Murkowski as an “economic train wreck.” Notwithstanding, though, the EPA’s approach to ozone standards could devastate job growth, raise energy costs for consumers, and divert essential capital that is required by our hobbling economy.

In the face of these overzealous regulation standards, what is the average citizen supposed to do? There are practically no tangible results to be seen. Where is the payoff? For the EPA to be hurting our economy to such a degree, there needs to be a benefit for individuals on a personal level. There are still countless communities that are being ruined by mesothelioma, a condition that has been well researched and understood for years. When families and children are suffering from exposure to environmental hazards such as asbestos, it becomes alarming to know that their health and safety are under the jurisdiction of the EPA. It raises the question of why there isn’t more direct action being made to address this issue. Even today, countless families are just discovering that their homes, offices, and schools are tainted with asbestos.

There has been some movement by the House GOP to reign in the out of control EPA though. Rep. Frederick Upton has written and introduced a bill called the H.R. 910: Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 which aims to prevent the EPA from sidestepping congress and enacting regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. The bill’s design is as follows:

“To amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change, and for other purposes.”

HR 910 has made it through committee, but needless to say, the Senate remains under the control of the Democratic Party whose policy has continued to leave the country mired deep in recession. The likelihood of the bill becoming law is very low, with the Whitehouse making a recent statement promising a veto.

Cutting the EPA’s budget down is going to a major step if the country wishes to see lower unemployment rates, increased business revenue, and more control over the national deficit. Obama has admittedly proposed a 2010 budget cut of $1.6 billion dollars to the EPA, however, the cut is only intended on reducing projects that involve public water contamination. Such a cut will not limit the EPA’s cap and trade agenda, and the agency will continue to enact regulations that are aimed at crippling industry.

While maintaining a clean environment is extremely important, the way it is maintained is equally important. The EPA’s proposal could amount to a disturbing impact on our nation’s economy. In reality, the gains seen by the environment would pale in comparison to the boost our economy would see. And seeing how the EPA has little control over the rest of the world, global pollution levels would be marginally affected. With countries such as China having much more relaxed pollution laws, it will come as no surprise when most U.S. corporations move overseas.