In the background of U.S. Climate Policy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is laying the foundation to potentially regulate Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG). In this week’s episode of Dave’s Corner, we’ll try to explain what this means to U.S. citizens.

What is the EPA?

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting human health and the environment. They do this by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress.

Why would the EPA issue GHG regulations when Congress has not yet passed a climate bill?

The EPA is concerned that the U.S. cannot afford to wait for Congress to pass climate legislation. As of now, they are simply taking the necessary precautions that will grant them the right to issue GHG emission rules in the event that Congress fails. According to a ruling in April 2007, the Supreme Court found greenhouse gases to be an air pollutant covered under the Clean Air Act. And the Clean Air Act gives the EPA the authority to regulate anything that undermines air quality.

What is the current status of EPA’s activity on this issue?

The EPA has issued an Endangerment Finding that acknowledges climate change as a significant threat to public health and welfare because excess amounts of greenhouse gas emissions that are changing the climate are also adversely affecting human health.

The EPA has sent its final proposal of the Endangerment Finding to the White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
If the White House and OMB approve the proposal then the EPA can issue GHG rules and regulations.

What is the scope of this Endangerment finding and EPA’s potential ruling?

The OMB has up to 90 days to review the proposal, but the EPA would like a decision sooner.

In 2007, the Supreme Court also asked the EPA to evaluate whether cars and trucks contribute to greenhouse gas pollution. Along with the final endangerment finding, the EPA also sent to OMB the agency’s conclusion as to the extent to which cars and trucks cause or contribute to that pollution. Such a finding would allow the federal government to regulate tailpipe emissions by increasing vehicle mileage requirement.

More Information can be found at the EPA’s website.

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