Sunday, April 19, 2009
The ball is now in Congress’ court following a decision on Friday by the Environmental Protection Agency to declare carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions a danger to the public’s health. President Barack Obama would prefer that Congress adopt legislation curbing greenhouse gases, in the hope he can get conservative Democrats and Republicans, along with the fossil fuel industry, on board rather than imposing restrictions solely through the EPA. But impose he will, say experts, if opponents don’t go along and help pass cap-and-trade legislation, which would limit emissions and allow emitters to trade pollution allowances.
“It is now no longer a choice between doing a bill or doing nothing,” Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) told the Washington Post. The co-author of a House bill establishing federal limits on greenhouse gases added: “It is now a choice between legislation and regulation. The EPA will have to act if Congress does not act.” That’s because EPA’s action puts it on a path required by the Clean Air Act to adopt new regulations, unless Congress does something. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) has pledged to pass legislation by Memorial Day.
Former Congressman Dave McCurdy, who now leads the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, admits EPA’s declaration gives the Obama administration leverage over industry, knowing if opponents don’t come to the table, the agency can adopt new rules curbing emissions without them.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
EPA Says Emissions Are Threat To Public (by Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post)
E.P.A. Clears Way for Greenhouse Gas Rules (by John Broder, New York Times)
EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Pose Threat to Public Health, Welfare / Proposed Finding Comes in Response to 2007 Supreme Court Ruling (Environmental Protection Agency press release)
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