EPA Ruling on GHGs

EPA rules GHGs a danger to health and subject to regulation; critics says EPA regs will give rise to era of lawsuits

In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency rules that greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to American’s health, and are thereby subject to regulation. The finding, released in a 284-page report, paves the way for new regulations to be imposed on industry in terms of auto and industrail emissions, as well as clearing the decks for possible litigation. At issue: the potential impact of regulation on consumer prices and energy costs, as well as the impact on jobs. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said Monday, the agency is “obligated to make reasonable efforts to reduce greenhouse pollutants under the Clean Air Act,” although President Obama has repeatedly stated that he would prefer legislation to regulation.

A commentary by Advanced Biofuels USA columnist Robert Kozak observed that the ruling has been hailed “as a significant decision that will soon result in large decreases of US produced GHGs. Don’t count on it. Much more likely are successful law suits blocking its legality. Here are some of the reasons why. One, EPA purposely disregards the entire issue of setting any new regulations as a result of the Finding. Two, EPA stumbles in its determination of why the six gases were selected, and Three, EPA applies uneven science criteria in its arguments for both the health effects of the gases and the reasons for including and excluding certain gases.”

ABC News published an intelligent, concise Q&A on the new EPA ruling, here.

EPA rules GHGs a danger to health and subject to regulation; critics says EPA regs will give rise to era of lawsuits is a post from: Biofuels Digest