Difference between revisions of "Environmental Protection Agency"
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It tries to play a mediating role in the debates between [[Conservation and environmentalism]]. | It tries to play a mediating role in the debates between [[Conservation and environmentalism]]. | ||
| − | + | In December 2009 the EPA officially declared that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, "threaten the health and welfare of the American people". The decision could open the way for the [[Obama administration]] to impose its own curbs on emissions, although Congress may have the final say. | |
| − | + | ||
On April 2, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions. This was a rebuke to the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] administration, which had called for voluntary reduction of the gases. <ref>Fox News: High Court Rebukes Bush on Car Pollution [http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr02/0,4670,ScotusGreenhouseGases,00.html]</ref>. | On April 2, 2007, the [[Supreme Court]] ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions. This was a rebuke to the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] administration, which had called for voluntary reduction of the gases. <ref>Fox News: High Court Rebukes Bush on Car Pollution [http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr02/0,4670,ScotusGreenhouseGases,00.html]</ref>. | ||
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==Global Warming== | ==Global Warming== | ||
The EPA has ruled that CO<sub>2</sub> is a health hazard and it is widely anticipated that the ruling will lead to legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Competitive Enterprise Institute reported findings that countered EPA claims. The report was suppressed from public knowledge and the likely reason was politically motivated. <ref>[http://cei.org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Endangerment%20Comments%206-23-09.pdf EPA’s Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act] Competitive Enterprise Institute</ref> | The EPA has ruled that CO<sub>2</sub> is a health hazard and it is widely anticipated that the ruling will lead to legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Competitive Enterprise Institute reported findings that countered EPA claims. The report was suppressed from public knowledge and the likely reason was politically motivated. <ref>[http://cei.org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Endangerment%20Comments%206-23-09.pdf EPA’s Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act] Competitive Enterprise Institute</ref> | ||
| + | ===DDT=== | ||
| + | An influential early act of the EPA was to ban [[DDT]] in the U.S. The reason was to protect numerous bird species and the harmless insects on which they depend for food. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 18:06, December 10, 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a federal agency established in 1970 to protect the natural resources (e.g., air, water and land) and endangered species.[1] Its authority is established by a series of federal laws such as the Clean Air Act. Its administrator is appointed by the President, and is usually given Cabinet-level rank. The current Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is Lisa P. Jackson.
It tries to play a mediating role in the debates between Conservation and environmentalism.
In December 2009 the EPA officially declared that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, "threaten the health and welfare of the American people". The decision could open the way for the Obama administration to impose its own curbs on emissions, although Congress may have the final say.
On April 2, 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This was a rebuke to the Bush administration, which had called for voluntary reduction of the gases. [2].
On 8 February, 2008, a federal appeals court struck down a mercury-control plan imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The court ruled that the Bush administration ignored the law when it imposed less stringent requirements on power plants to reduce mercury pollution, which scientists fear could cause neurological problems in 60,000 newborns a year.[3]
Global Warming
The EPA has ruled that CO2 is a health hazard and it is widely anticipated that the ruling will lead to legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Competitive Enterprise Institute reported findings that countered EPA claims. The report was suppressed from public knowledge and the likely reason was politically motivated. [4]
DDT
An influential early act of the EPA was to ban DDT in the U.S. The reason was to protect numerous bird species and the harmless insects on which they depend for food.
References
- ↑ http://www.epa.gov
- ↑ Fox News: High Court Rebukes Bush on Car Pollution [1]
- ↑ Court strikes down EPA's plan on mercury
- ↑ EPA’s Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act Competitive Enterprise Institute
