WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency's staff concluded last month that greenhouse gases pose a threat to the nation's welfare, which would require federal regulations to rein in emissions from vehicles, factories, power plants and other industrial polluters under the Clean Air Act, sources in the agency told The Times.
The conclusion, known as an "endangerment" finding, has been sent to the White House for review, and comes as the agency is under a Supreme Court order to examine risks from greenhouse gases. The agency also faces a lawsuit from at least 16 state governments over their attempts to regulate vehicle gas emissions.
Senate committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) released excerpts from documents she said her staffers were allowed to see but not copy. Boxer said Wednesday that Johnson had done a "terrible job," and accused him of stonewalling the committee's investigation.
"We need to know why a majority of our population, over 150 million people, have been denied an opportunity to clean up greenhouse gas pollution," Boxer said.
"Who is Mr. Johnson listening to?" said Boxer. "Who is giving him other advice than the advice he got from his well-qualified staff? . . . He needs to be held accountable."
But the documents show his staff concluded that "California continues to have compelling and extraordinary conditions" including its geography, climate and large car-driving population.
The conclusion, known as an "endangerment" finding, has been sent to the White House for review, and comes as the agency is under a Supreme Court order to examine risks from greenhouse gases. The agency also faces a lawsuit from at least 16 state governments over their attempts to regulate vehicle gas emissions.
Senate committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) released excerpts from documents she said her staffers were allowed to see but not copy. Boxer said Wednesday that Johnson had done a "terrible job," and accused him of stonewalling the committee's investigation.
"We need to know why a majority of our population, over 150 million people, have been denied an opportunity to clean up greenhouse gas pollution," Boxer said.
"Who is Mr. Johnson listening to?" said Boxer. "Who is giving him other advice than the advice he got from his well-qualified staff? . . . He needs to be held accountable."
But the documents show his staff concluded that "California continues to have compelling and extraordinary conditions" including its geography, climate and large car-driving population.
Read more from Staff writer Richard Simon and Janet Wilson from latimes.com
Haase Comments:
Stop the Blame game and take action CA: As reported today by the S.F. Chronicle:
All of the $Exchange$ of your tax dollars debating action is dearly costing us million of dollars and 1000's of lives...
I said it before and I will say it again: Suing, talking and writing up violations is NOT action. Reducing, renewing and reusing is action.
PLEASE CA - Lead by positive action and the world will follow. The only entity stopping CA from cleaning CA is CA...
CA has great people, a great leader and can do great things if this energy was positively focused.
Haase Comments:
Stop the Blame game and take action CA: As reported today by the S.F. Chronicle:
“California exhibits a greater number of key impact concerns than other regions,” they wrote. The staffers listed all the risks that could prove the state’s case - from potential water shortages to rising sea levels affecting coastal communities to health threats from air pollution.
The question is why? Answer - Lack of positive action...“Wildfires are increasing,” which could “generate particulates that can exacerbate health risk,” they wrote. “California has the greatest variety of ecosystems in the U.S.; and the most threatened and endangered species in the continental U.S.”
Where does the American public think the money comes from when government sues government? Billions of dollars that could be used for Environmental protection gets thrown away every in these federal/state bickering wars...
All of the $Exchange$ of your tax dollars debating action is dearly costing us million of dollars and 1000's of lives...
I said it before and I will say it again: Suing, talking and writing up violations is NOT action. Reducing, renewing and reusing is action.
PLEASE CA - Lead by positive action and the world will follow. The only entity stopping CA from cleaning CA is CA...
CA has great people, a great leader and can do great things if this energy was positively focused.