LiveGreenNOW

We have been alerted that there is a sneak attack underway in the US Senate on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate CO2. If this effort succeeds, it will do tremendous harm to one of the few ways we have to decrease some carbon emissions, so it is very important.

The easiest way to participate is to go to the National Wildlife Fund web site for an online letter to Senator Landrieu. (She is a special target of this campaign.) A call to her office would also be in order, and have a bigger effect. (504) 589-2427
https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1032

Here are the details:

Please Reject Murkowski Amendment #2530 in Senate FY10 Appropriations Bill

The Murkowski amendment will prevent EPA from having the resources it needs to protect public health and our environment from the urgent threat of global warming. When Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, it created one of our landmark laws for protecting public health and the environment. For decades, the EPA has successfully and effectively implemented this legislation both to grow our economy and to reduce air pollution, control acid rain, and protect public health. As we face the climate crisis, the Senate should not limit EPA’s ability to implement new pollution reductions that have wide, bi-partisan support such as the recently announced automobile tailpipe standards.

Such efforts should be promoted not prevented so we can jumpstart the modernization and retooling of our industries, protect our environment, and reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

The proposed Murkowski amendment includes a 10 year or so “timeout.” This is unnecessary because in 1999, EPA told Congress it had authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate not just tailpipe emissions but also greenhouse gas emissions from other sources. The Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA was also started in 1999. The Supreme Court case was decided over two and a half years ago. We have lost precious time already to address the climate crisis and do not need anymore “timeouts.”

The Murkowski amendment will also make the China problem worse. China, India and other developing countries are prepared to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions if the U.S. agrees to start reducing its emissions. Putting handcuffs on the EPA, especially in the absence of the Senate passing energy and climate legislation this year, will send the wrong signals at the wrong time and push China and India away from making commitments.

If the Murkowski amendment passes, Congress will be denied ordinary process. The amendment end runs Congress’ regular order. Congress should not make policy decisions of such immense importance for the public health and welfare by rashly attaching a rider to a must-pass spending bill. If Congress wishes to consider whether EPA should regulate greenhouse gases and from what sources, it should do so deliberately in the context of comprehensive climate legislation.

Thanks in Advance,
John Atkeison
Director of Climate and Clean Energy Programs

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 3:27 am and is filed under Green Street, Smart Energy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.