EPA Poised to Declare CO2 a Public Danger

The Wall Street Journal ^ | DECEMBER 5, 2009 | Ian Talley

[Delacon]

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will early next week, possibly as soon as Monday, officially declare carbon dioxide a public danger, a trigger that could mean regulation for emitters across the economy, according to several people close to the matter.

Such an "endangerment" decision is necessary for the EPA to move ahead early next year with new emission standards for cars. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has said it could also mean large emitters such as power stations, cement kilns, crude-oil refineries and chemical plants would have to curb their greenhouse gas output.

The announcement would also give President Barack Obama and his climate envoy negotiating leverage at a global climate summit starting next week in Copenhagen, Denmark and increase pressure on Congress to pass a climate bill that would modify the price of polluting.

While environmentalists celebrate EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases, it has caused many large emitters to cringe at the potential costs of compliance.

According to a preliminary endangerment finding published in April, EPA scientists fear that man-made carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are contributing to a warming of the global climate. Senior EPA officials said in November the agency would likely make a final decision in December around the time of the summit.

Joe Mendelson, Global Warming Policy Director for National Wildlife Federation, said the endangerment decision, would happen at "absolutely the right time."

"With House legislation passed, a bipartisan Senate bill in the works, and strong EPA action a virtual certainty, the president goes to Copenhagen with a very strong hand to play," Mr. Mendelson said.

The EPA declaration would also ratchet up the pressure on U.S. lawmakers to pass legislation that analysts say would cut emissions in a more economically efficient way. Although the House has passed a climate bill, movement of similar 

[old curmudgeon]

I know, I know.

I also assume that most who frequent FR know.

I chose to take the line of reasoning that our freedom going to be taken away from us. Most folks get a lot more excited about their freedom than about a discussion as to whether eating eggs is bad for you.

The thing that everyone should worry about is losing our freedom.

It is my understanding that if EPA does this, under the present laws congress can not stop them.

.

[headstamp 2]

A federal lawsuit needs to be filed against the EPA to compel them to PROVE CO2 is detrimental to the environment and causes climate change.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

No apparent mentions of Climategate. EPA should really rethink this, but I have complete faith that they won’t.

[Electric Graffiti]

They are, therefore, enemies of human activity and are public enemies as much as Muslim extremists who want to kill us for being infidels. Besides, most of them are socialists of varying degrees and, therefore, are enemies of individual human liberty.

I agree. Great post.

[Delacon]

Since we are entering the era of complete governmental control of human behavior, which board can I appeal to for the speech crimes inflicted on me by my wife when I let one rip?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

You mean that the decision won’t happen just before the right time, or just after the right time, or perhaps a century before or after the right time?

[Art in Idaho]

CONCLUSION: For the foregoing reasons, EPA should immediately suspend any action it is about to take on an Endangerment Finding, and reopen this proceeding for an investigation of, and public comment on, the newly-released information.

Way to go CEI! Good to see there's some authoritative body fighting this. Get the word out! Send this FReep thread to all your friends. .

[Electric Graffiti]

It is my understanding that if EPA does this, under the present laws congress can not stop them.

Can they defund them? I know, never going to happen with the leftists in control.

[PALIN SMITH]

The EPA is a public danger.

Time for some Congressmen with the balls to say so!!

And then dismantle the critter pronto!!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

COMMIES AT WORK!

Global Warming PING!

You have been pinged because of your interest in environmentalism, alarmist wackos, mainstream media doomsday hype, and other issues pertaining to global warming.

Freep-mail me to get on or off: Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to all note-worthy threads on global warming.

Global Warming on Free Republic

Latest from Global Warming News Site

Latest from Greenie Watch

[aruanan]

According to a preliminary endangerment finding published in April, EPA scientists fear that man-made carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are contributing to a warming of the global climate. Senior EPA officials said in November the agency would likely make a final decision in December around the time of the summit.

This just demonstrates what my uncle, who was the CEO of a major utility in Michigan for 27 years, said about the EPA: their science is outmoded. When the EPA came to his utility about installing some sort of pollution abatement and offered to make to them special low interest federal loans to employ EPA scientists to set up what they thought needed to be done, he told them they'd do it themselves. And they did. They paid for it all themselves at a cost far, far less than the EPA would have required, ended up with an effluent that was cleaner than the water they took into their utility for cooling, and won a regional award for it. The EPA's MO was to get a utility to accept the low interest loan and then use this as a way of saying what a wonderful job they could all accomplish in the "partnership" with the government agency. When the EPA guy came to take part in their award ceremony my uncle made sure that the EPA guy spoke after he did. In his speech he emphasized how they were able to accomplish what they did all on their own, at a relatively low cost, in a manner that greatly exceeded all government requirements, without any government involvement at all. He said that there was nothing left for the EPA guy to say but to congratulate them on their accomplishment. TREATED!

[BOBTHENAILER]

THE EPA JACKBOOT IS COMING TO STOMP ON US

[autumnraine]

Everybody, STOP BREATHING!!

Hey you cow over there, don’t you even think about letting out that fart!

[old curmudgeon]

I believe they can, but I am not certain.

Surely if they can hold up funds for the military who are actually fighting, which they have done, they can “forget” to include funds for EPA in the next appropriations bill.

[Mygirlsmom]

Panic by the EPA .. their house of cards is crashing down all around and they can’t think of anything else to do but lash out willy-nilly with whatever they’ve got left in their empty arsenal of rhetoric

No need for panic - who's going to stop them????

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

...possibly as soon as Monday...

I hate Mondays...

[dila813]

The EPA is trying to rewrite the law in doing this. If they do this I will sue.

[SCalGal]

Surely if they can hold up funds for the military who are actually fighting, which they have done, they can “forget” to include funds for EPA in the next appropriations bill.

"De-funding" is one way to keep enacted legislation from taking effect. The border fence is a good example - it passed, but there was no money for it.

[Mike Darancette]

The Congress cannot be sued for it’s actions the EPA can.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

What stocks do I buy on Monday morning?

Buy stock issued by the carbon-trading, rent-seeking, corporate banker scum.