All of which is creating a handy new line of business for Japan's environmental-protection industry.

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The Environmental Protection Agency immediately reassured the industry, declaring the new rules would not come into full effect until 2015.

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That is a small price to pay for environmental protection and the health of a promising industry.

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Among them: enactment of a national speed limit of 65 miles per hour, freight industry participation in an Environmental Protection Agency program to reduce fuel consumption, and a reduction of highway congestion by raising the fuel tax if necessary.

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This was the start of Medicaid for the poor and, later, increased regulation of industry through bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Reforming regulations to strengthen environmental protection without destroying the U.S. coal mining industry.

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All that, combined with an industry-wide emissions fine imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and recessions overseas, led to the big charges last year.

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Even more rules and regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to inhibit the drilling of petroleum, natural gas and the inevitable extinction of the coal industry.

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