Some Missouri lawmakers don’t like an Environmental Protection Agency-backed study of emissions from backyard cookouts, and one has launched a social media campaign against it.
Missouri State Senator Eric Schmitt doesn’t like the EPA’s study of grill technology aimed at reducing pollution. He launched the Twitter hashtag pork steak rebellion, encouraging people to grill outdoors as a sign of protest.
“Across the country there are people using the hashtag expressing their displeasure with the idea that the EPA would find their way into that part of our lives,” said Schmitt. “There’s a lot of people that are joining our ranks in the pork steak rebellion.”
The EPA is funding a $15,000 University of California-Riverside study to look at the particulate emissions from grilling over an open flame. The grill uses an air filtration system and drip tray to avoid meat drippings from hitting the grill’s flames and producing pollution. Schmitt is worried the government might look to regulate backyard grills next.
“On the face of it, it’s a waste of taxpayer money and ultimately this is the time to put a stop to it before it leads to regulations that would regulate backyard barbecues,” said Schmitt. “The idea that the EPA would have an interest in regulating a backyard barbecue on the fourth of July is ridiculous.”
Schmitt has also filed a resolution meant to discourage the EPA from regulating the use of individual propane gas barbecue grills. Such resolutions carry no power but are often offered by the state legislature to send a message about its wishes to other government entities.