| November 19, 2009 |  |
EPA Moves Closer to Regulating Large Global Warming Polluters; Regs Part of 'Back-Up Plan' if Congress Fails to Act
Statement by Ron Burke, Union of Concerned Scientists
CHICAGO (November 19, 2009)—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a hearing today in Chicago to give the public an opportunity to weigh in on the agency's proposal to begin regulating global warming gases from power plants, oil refineries, factories and other major sources. The agency held a similar public hearing yesterday in Arlington, Virginia.
Current Clean Air Act regulations for such pollutants as lead, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides apply to facilities that emit 100 to 250 tons annually. That threshold is inappropriate for the six global warming gases EPA has authority to regulate. Under the EPA's proposed "tailoring" rule, the agency would raise the threshold so that only large facilities with annual global warming emissions of more than 25,000 tons would be regulated. According to the EPA, the new threshold would cover nearly 70 percent of the emissions from stationary sources.
Below is a statement by Ron Burke, the director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Midwest office, who will testify at the Chicago area hearing:
"The science is clear that we're altering the climate by overloading the atmosphere with carbon emissions from burning gasoline, coal and natural gas to power our cars, homes and businesses. In an ideal world, Congress would have already passed a climate and clean energy bill. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet, and the planet won't wait. That's why it's critical for the EPA to address this problem in the meantime as a back-up plan in the event Congress doesn't get the job done.
"Global warming has implications for all aspects of our lives, here in Illinois and across the nation. If current emissions trends continue, by the end of the century average summer temperatures in Illinois are projected to be 13 degrees warmer than historical levels. Chicagoans would suffer 71 days with temperatures above 90 degrees and 30 days with temperatures above 100 degrees. Heavy rain events would increase by 50 percent. And Illinois farmers would have to contend with crop-damaging heat waves nearly every year.
"Until Congress finally passes a comprehensive law to create clean energy jobs and fight global warming, EPA regulation under the Clean Air Act is our best option."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
