Tuesday, February 9, 2010

U.S. Representatives Introduce Bill to Prohibit Regulation of Greenhouse Gases Under Clean Air Act

As recently reported on this blog, members of the U.S. Senate introduced a resolution disapproving U.S. EPA's endangerment finding that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health and welfare.  On February 2nd, members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation that would prohibit U.S. EPA from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act:

"SECTION 1. GREENHOUSE GAS REGULATION UNDER CLEAN AIR ACT.

Section 302(g) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7602(g)) is amended by adding the following at the end thereof: `The term `air pollutant' shall not include any of the following solely on the basis of its effect on global climate change:

`(1) Carbon dioxide.
`(2) Methane.
`(3) Nitrous oxide.
`(4) Hydrofluorocarbons.
`(5) Perfluorocarbons.
`(6) Sulfur hexafluoride.'."

The bill was introduced by Representative Ike Skelton (D-Missouri) and co-sponsored by Representatives Jo Ann Emerson (R-Missouri) and Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota).

Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.

3 comments:

  1. American politicians should hang thier heads in shame and the US should be dis-barred from attendence at any future environmental conferences/summits with the rest of the world (members of the public) given this reason why.
    Typical american consumerism on the usual mammoth scale and typical insular self-interest.
    This amendment makes a pretty powerful statement as to what priority they put on immediate and short term gains, as opposed to the quality of life and well-being of thier own future generations.
    Why the hell did Obama attend Copenhagen!! (although in reflection, they (US) were instrumental in that particular summit being an utter failure.
    This amendment should be broadcast to the rest of the world to show just how self serving these people are.
    Its a crime against humanity and the Biosphere as a whole.

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  2. Re: Andy C

    The Clean Air Act was not drafted nor intended to control green house gases. Its permitting mechanisms simply do not work for GHGs, especially CO2. Your rant clearly shows how uneducated you are on the subject. EPA was moving forward with regulating GHGs under the CAA to put pressure on Congress to pass some form of cap and trade or some other program to better address greenhouse gases. As for Copenhagen, the delegates were not even speaking to each other until Obama arrived and he managed to salvage at least something (the Copenhagen Accord). I have that information straight from someone who was actually there. If anyone derailed Copenhagen, it was the Chinese delagation.

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