Perry: EPA Action On Permits a Federal Power Grab

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says an EPA decision to bar the state from issuing an operating permit to a southeast Texas refinery is part of an Obama administration effort to take power away from states.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday barred Texas from issuing an operating permit to the independently owned Flint Hills Corpus Christi East Refinery, saying the state's permit violates the Clean Air Act.

Instead, the EPA plans to issue the refinery a more stringent permit that it says complies with the law.

Perry's office said in a statement the Clean Air Act gives permitting authority to the state. The statement said President Barack Obama's administration is making a "concerted effort to transfer power away from the states to the federal government."

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Associated Press writer Jay Root contributed to this report from Austin, Texas.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry says an EPA decision to bar the state from issuing an operating permit to a southeast Texas refinery is part of an Obama administration effort to take power away from states.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday barred Texas from issuing an operating permit to the independently owned Flint Hills Corpus Christi East Refinery, saying the state's permit violates the Clean Air Act.

Instead, the EPA plans to issue the refinery a more stringent permit that it says complies with the law.

Perry said in a statement the Clean Air Act gives permitting authority to the state. Perry says President Barack Obama's administration is making a "concerted effort to transfer power away from the states to the federal government."

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Associated Press writer Jay Root contributed to this report from Austin, Texas.