Breaking Policy News — U.S. Declares Warming Gases are Health Threat

April 17th, 2009
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WASHINGTON D.C. (from wire reports)

Having received White House backing, the Environmental Protection Agency declared today that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are a significant threat to human health and thus will be listed as pollutants under the Clean Air Act — a policy the Bush administration rejected.

The move could allow the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases, but it’s more likely that the Obama administration will use the action to prod Congress to pass regulations around a system to cap and then trade emissions so that they are gradually lowered.

The EPA last month sent its proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget, which reviewed and approved it. By law, the decision includes a public comment period before being finalized.

The EPA concluded that six greenhouse gases should be considered pollutants under the 1970 Clean Air Act, which is already used to curb emissions that cause acid rain, smog and soot.

The declaration does not, however, spell out how or what to regulate — leaving unanswered a huge issue. Instead, the EPA and lawmakers are expected to begin that discussion.

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Filed Under: ARCHIVES • Feature Articles • Policy

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