California To Sue EPA Over Air Standards

Schwarzenegger's Administration Says EPA Is Acting Too Slowly To Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

(AP)  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration will sue the Environmental Protection Agency for acting too slowly on California's request to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, a spokesman said Wednesday.

At issue is a request the state made in 2005 for a waiver that would exempt it from the federal Clean Air Act, allowing California to more aggressively regulate automobile emissions as air pollutants.

"It's a priority for Californians to protect our environment, and if the federal government fails to act to protect our environment, we will take steps to do so ourselves," Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear told The Associated Press.

Schwarzenegger will send a letter Wednesday to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. The governor was to announce the state's intention to sue during a luncheon speech at the Milken Institute's 10th Anniversary Global Conference in Beverly Hills.

The EPA had delayed acting on the request because the agency maintained it did not have the authority to regulate the gases that contribute to global warming. The state's request was revived earlier this month when the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the EPA does have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases, a position that had long been rejected by the Bush administration.

On Tuesday, Johnson told senators that he had begun the formal process to act on California's request. That involves a public hearing May 22 in Washington and a public comment period that ends June 15.

But Johnson refused to set a timetable specifying when the agency would issue a decision on California's request.

"We will move expeditiously, but we are going to be moving responsibly," Johnson told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The 5-4 Supreme Court decision did not require the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases. But it does say the agency must show that carbon dioxide emissions are not a danger to public health if it chooses not regulate them under the Clean Air Act.

The committee's chairwoman, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said she expected the EPA to make a decision by the middle of the summer and would call agency officials back before her panel after the comment period had closed.

California's waiver is needed for the state to implement a 2002 state law that would require automakers to reduce emissions from cars and light trucks by 25 percent and from sport utility vehicles by 18 percent starting with the 2009 model year.

The waiver also carries implications for at least 10 other states that have adopted California's standard. Federal law allows states to choose between the federal and the California rules.

[sjc_1]

Many equate CO2 emissions with life style. They think that the only way to reduce CO2 emissions is to seriously downgrade their lifestyle and perhaps harm the economy. Nothing could be further from the truth and in fact is exactly the opposite. It is the present administration that wants the people to think this way.

[alandowney]

People who criticize the irony of California having the worst air and the strictest pollution laws are the idiots. While we rank the worst in air pollution, we also have the largest population and industrial base. As bad as things are, they are improving and it's about 100 times better than it'd be if we did nothing about pollution. I remember as a kid having several "smog alerts" where we had to stay inside because the air was so bad. Then we removed lead from gasoline and imposed industrial air quality restrictions. Smog alerts just don't happen anymore and our industries and our population are among the most productive in the country.

[jebediah76]

"As we stop global warming by using Ethanol"
--djermano1

Incorrect. Burning ethanol releases CO2 - Carbon Dioxide - One of three major Greenhouse gasses.

What Ethanol reduces is CO - Carbon Monoxide - which is certainly a health hazard and a smog producer - but which is NOT a greenhouse gas.

Ethanol has its benefits, the greatest of which is reduction of dependence on foreign sources of energy. It does not, however, come close to solving the issue of Global Climate Change.

[afmca]

I want to put Arnold, the Terminator, and King George, the Dumber, in a wrestling rink and whoever comes out in one piece gets to set the Republican environmental agenda. We would all thank Arnold for being open, honest, and looking to our children's future; while Georgie pleads for 2 more years for polluters to get rich.

[extremophil]

What a laugh! The biggest polluting state in the world is suing to get help for itself.

[itwasntme000]

Well if idiots wanna all pile up and pack a million people in a very small area....DUHHHHH.... The people living their and complaining are the idiots.

But yea we do need to move more towards electric cars or something else.

But people who live in big cities only have them selves to blame for having to breath in that sorry excuse for air.

[djermano1]

I am so proud of Governor Schwartznegger. He is doing so much good for California. He is not like the other Republican maddogs. He is a man that understands issues and really goes out to make change. I really admire him. I received an email from him personally and he is interested in my company: http://www.sugarcitycane.com

We are an Environmental Energy Fuel Producer. We have the distinction in building the first city ever built by mankind on the Ocean on the Equator with the sole purpose of growing sugarcane for Ethanol.

It is my intent to make this company part of California's Environmental Development with the incentive that when people buy our Ethanol fuel the money from the purchase is used to pay for California's Universal Medical Insurance, so everyone in California has real medical care.

As we stop global warming by using Ethanol we also gain the appreciation that our profits are not used like Oil Corporate America where they they hoard it for their own corporate interests; but our profits go to help and promote Universal Medical Coverage for all the people in California. It can be done. In fact this is the new Silicon Valley Expressway Venture, building California's First City on the Ocean to grow Ethanol for the sole purpose in providing Health Care and Universal Medical Coverage for its Citizens.

[ndg1979]

Sparks224 has got it right, but what confuses me is that California had this opportunity years ago to accept the General Motors EV-1 concept 100% electric car. Instead they buckled under pressure and the car passed into history. This car could have been in mass production right now and competing with current gas models.

For California, it is too little too late. They should have woken up years ago. As for the federal government, it will always be far too late for them to be effective. They are operating over 20 years behind the rest of the developed nations. So much for being No. 1.

[sparks224]

American citizens need to wage a war on the oil business.

We can do that by not buying any gasoline, ever.

This can be done by driving electric vehicles.

[hsinco-2009]

Sounds like the EPA is about as worthless as the FDA
Posted by susieq_13 at 05:51 PM : Apr 25, 2007

Don't forget the USDA, the CDC, the NIH, et al- anything that the Bushies touched is now tainted.

It will take years to fix it all after W is regulated to defending the Iraq War for the REST of his life.

The war will follow him like an albatross!

[onlyfacts]

Sero5,

And the amount of CO2 that cars are emit provide that level?

[jfebiala]

Carbon dioxide is what plants use to make sugar. More carbon dioxide is good for plants!

[sero5]

Inhale carbon dioxide in high concentrations ( 5% in air) can cause hyperventilation and unconsciousness.
In 30 minute acute hypercapnia (too much carbon dioxide in the blood).

[glidescube]

Wanting strong federal agencies makes you a enemy of freedom. Just ask W! ;)

[onlyfacts]

How is Carbon Dioxide a danger to public health?

[susieq_13]

Sounds like the EPA is about as worthless as the FDA