From the Federal Register, April 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 78), [Proposed Rules] [Page 18885-18910]
"SUMMARY: Today the Administrator is proposing to find that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations. Concentrations of greenhouse gases are at unprecedented levels compared to the recent and distant past. These high atmospheric levels are the unambiguous result of human emissions, and are very likely the cause of the observed increase in average temperatures and other climatic changes. The effects of climate change observed to date and projected to occur in the future--including but not limited to the increased likelihood of more frequent and intense heat waves, more wildfires, degraded air quality, more heavy downpours and flooding, increased drought, greater sea level rise, more intense storms, harm to water resources, harm to agriculture, and harm to wildlife and ecosystems--are effects on public health and welfare within the meaning of the Clean Air Act. In light of the likelihood that greenhouse gases cause these effects, and the magnitude of the effects that are occurring and are very likely to occur in the future, the Administrator proposes to find that atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act. She proposes to make this finding specifically with respect to six greenhouse gases that together constitute the root of the climate change problem: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The Administrator is also proposing to find that the combined emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines are contributing to this mix of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Thus, she proposes to find that the emissions of these substances from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines are contributing to air pollution which is endangering public health and welfare under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act.
DATES: Comments on this proposed action must be received on or before June 23, 2009. If you submitted comments on the issues raised by this proposal in dockets for other Agency efforts (e.g., the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Regulating Greenhouse Gases under the Clean Air Act), you must still submit your comments to the docket for this action (EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0171) by the deadline if you want them to be considered. There will be two public hearings. One hearing will be held on May 18, 2009 in Arlington, VA. The other hearing will be on May 21, 2009 in Seattle, WA. "
Roger E. Sowell, Esq.
Climate Change Attorney
Legal website
2 comments:
"[...] Thus, she proposes to find that the emissions of these substances from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines are contributing to air pollution [...]"
I'm so relieved. I thought my old beater truck might be emitting some pollutants but I guess I only have to worry about my new car, which gets 3X the mpg of the truck.
And miracle of miracles, the EPA has discovered that vehicle exhaust contributes to air pollution. Who'da thunk it?
There are lies, damn lies, and... well, the gum'mint just leaves me scratching my head most of the time.
(Howdy, Roger. I enjoy visiting here from time to time. Keep it up.)
H.R., you make a great point! Of course, the "new motor vehicle" language is only there so that California can require new cars sold in the state to have more stringent emission standards compared to the other states. This is a re-play of the dual-mode manufacturing in the 70's where California required special emission systems on cars. Detroit car makers lost money by having to make special cars.
I wonder about our government about 90 percent of the time. Did anyone inform the EPA that Detroit carmakers are not having their best year?
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