EPA Clamps Down On Greenhouse Gases

Don’t like that smoggy smell that seems to destroy your olfactory senses when you go by that certain industrial section of your city? Apparently the Environmental Protection Agency isn’t too fond of using nose plugs, either.

The EPA wants to move toward a full-scale regulation of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, as soon as they can investigate the link between the gas and its effects on global warming and human health risk.

The impact of the regulation could be felt far and wide in transportation, manufacturing and heavy industries, who’ve long been blamed for the release of the fumes.

Companies that have already streamlined their reduction of CO2 emissions, by attempting to release less, while moving along on the ‘green bandwagon,’ will most likely benefit from the regulation.

In an article from the LA Times, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said, “We are going to be making a fairly significant finding about what these gases mean for public health and the welfare of our country.”

The new regulations are rooted in the both a December 2008 ruling by ex-agency administrator Stephen Johnson who banned greenhouse gas limits in clean air permits, and the EPA’s memo, “Prevention of Significant Deterioration,” which outline a program the agency has, to “protect public health, enhance the air quality in national parks, wilderness areas, seashores and areas of recreation,” and to encourage “public participation in the decision making process.”

That bit about protecting air quality in national parks sounds particularly like music to our ears.

The only problem: The EPA doesn’t think they can go on the offense alone. They feel that the issue is too large to tackle solo, and further moves will also require congressional action as well.

The next step, the EPA says, is to “vigorously review the Johnson memo to ensure that it is consistent with the Obama Administration’s climate change strategy.”

–Matt Draper