WASHINGTON, March 28
Backpedaling from his initial strategy of regulating motor-vehicle emissions first, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson will wait until "later this spring" to start accepting public comment about potentially managing heat-trapping gases from multiple sources.
That delay -- announced Thursday in a letter to House and Senate environmental leaders -- ignited eruptions from Democrats who have organized a full-court press to force the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately regulate gases that are warming the planet.
"This approach gives the appropriate care and attention this complex issue demands," Johnson wrote in his March 27 letter. "Rather than rushing to judgment on a single issue, this approach allows us to examine all the potential effects of a decision with the benefit of the publicīs insight. In short, this process will best serve the American public."
Johnson explained to lawmakers that he will issue an "advanced notice of proposed rulemaking" this spring, so the federal government can consider how to regulate greenhouse gases. In addition to sources such as cars and trucks, he said he wants to address emissions from schools, hospitals, factories, power plants, aircraft, ships and other stationary sources.
The three-page letter didnīt include any particulars concerning a decision-making schedule. Environmental organizations, however, have long suspected the next president will be handling this issue.
Johnsonīs letter comes a year after Supreme Court justices ruled 5-4 in Massachusetts v. EPA that carbon dioxide emitted from vehicles could be regulated under the Clean Air Act as pollutants.
President Bushīs signing of an ambitious energy law last December prompted this change in strategy, Johnson said.
Democratic Reps. Henry Waxman of California and John Dingell of Michigan arenīt falling for that reasoning. Waxman accused Johnson of stalling and switching stands.
"This is a transparent delaying tactic and a major reversal of EPAīs position," said Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "In December, Administrator Johnson found that CO2 emissions endanger the environment and proposed new standards for motor vehicles. Todayīs action repudiates those efforts."
Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said it is puzzling and disappointing that the Bush administration hasnīt joined the effort to enact comprehensive climate change legislation.
But former EPA deputy general counsel Chet Thompson was more forgiving. He served under the current Bush administration.
"EPAīs approach is very responsible given the numerous issues raised by the recent Supreme Court decision, the complexities of the Clean Air Act and the enormous ramifications of the issue for the nation and the globe.," said Thompson, who now handles environmental cases for the Washington law firm Crowell & Moring. "Indeed, moving forward on many of these issues without first soliciting outside input would be irresponsible."
An impatient Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., accused the EPA of more foot-dragging.
"There is no time to waste, but the administratorīs letter today makes it clear that EPA doesnīt intend to take an real action to combat global warming before President Bush leaves office," the chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said. "Time is not on our side when it comes to avoiding dangerous climate change. This letter makes it clear that Mr. Johnson and the Bush administration are not on our side either."
To subscribe or visit go to: http://www.wastenews.com