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Monday, December 07, 2009

EPA Poised To Declare CO2 A Public Danger, With Or Without Legislation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will, possibly today, officially declare carbon dioxide a public danger, a trigger that could mean regulation for emitters across the economy, according to several people close to the matter.

Such an "endangerment" decision is necessary for the EPA to move ahead early next year with new emission standards for cars. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has said it could also mean large emitters such as power stations, cement kilns, crude-oil refineries and chemical plants would have to curb their greenhouse gas output.

The announcement would also give President Barack Obama and his climate envoy negotiating leverage at a global climate summit starting next week in Copenhagen, Denmark and increase pressure on Congress to pass a climate bill that would modify the price of polluting.

Joe Mendelson, Global Warming Policy Director for National Wildlife Federation, said the endangerment decision, would happen at "absolutely the right time."

"With House legislation passed, a bipartisan Senate bill in the works, and strong EPA action a virtual certainty, the president goes to Copenhagen with a very strong hand to play," Mr. Mendelson said.


The EPA's Ms. Jackson and President Obama's energy and climate czar Carol Browner have said they would prefer Congress to take action but are prepared to move ahead in the absence of lawmakers crafting their own law.

More from The Wall Street Journal

3 comments:

Concerned Retiree said...

Another example of bypassing Congress and destruction of our Constitution in allowing individuals to institute their poilitical beliefs and policies with no recourse but to destroy our freedom and align with the beliefs of Dictators. This policy is not only in Washington but in Annapolis and Salisbury.

Anonymous said...

man made global warming is a scam to those on the right and a religion to those on the left

Anonymous said...

99% of scientists who are experts in the field agree that global climate change is real and man made co2 emissions are the culprit, So go ahead and believe the coal industry and the exxon/mobils of the world. Don't do anything because it would be bad for the wealthy corporations. Just think... what if you are wrong!