Legislators and Scholars Respond to Implementation of EPA Emissions Cuts
As the Environmental Protection Agency begins requiring cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial sources, the Obama administration promises a smooth transition, lawmakers continue to block climate rules, and many states will be required to change state laws that don’t allow regulation of GHG gases or don’t comply with plans to regulate only the biggest facilities.
A new paper by three Duke University experts says the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) of the Clean Air Act are a more practical way to reduce emissions under existing law. The NSPS have not been implemented by the EPA, which has thus far relied on New Source Review (NSR) provisions. The paper aims to balance EPA's legal obligations, based on their finding that carbon dioxide emissions are a threat to human health and welfare, with the political reality that no climate legislation has been able to build sufficient support from legislators.
In the absence of climate legislation, environmental groups feel the performance standards are "the best tool we have," said David Doniger, policy director at the climate center of the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of three major environmental groups that have threatened to take legal action if the EPA does not agree to set performance standards for power plants.
Senator Max Baucus (D-MO), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee supports a measure to ban the EPA from regulating GHG emissions, preferring legislation to be written by congressional committees representing varying views.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43416.html
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/123055-baucus-opposes-epa-climate-regs
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