P
Patriot Games
Guest
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/14/140955.shtml?s=us
Bush Sets Deadline for Emissions Rules
NewsMax.com Wires Monday, May 14, 2007
WASHINGTON -- President Bush responded Monday to a Supreme Court ruling by
ordering federal agencies to find a way to begin regulating vehicle
emissions by the time he leaves office.
In a Rose Garden announcement, Bush said he wanted to move ahead, pending
any separate legislative approaches. The new rules will "cut gasoline
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles," he said.
But the Bush executive order telling several agencies to finish the work by
2008 also said they must take into account the views of the general public,
the impact the new rules would have on safety, scientific knowledge,
available technology and the cost. Bush's term ends Jan. 20, 2009.
"This is a complex legal and technical matter and it's going to take time to
fully resolve," he said.
The agencies involved include the departments of Transportation, Agriculture
and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Last month, the Supreme Court rebuked the Bush administration for its
inaction on global warming. In a 5-4 decision, it declared that carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants under the Clean
Air Act and thus can be regulated by the EPA.
The court also said that the "laundry list" of reasons the administration
has given for declining to do so are insufficient, and that the EPA must
regulate carbon dioxide, the leading gas linked to global warming, if it
finds that it endangers public health.
Democrats who control Congress have been pressuring the administration to
say when it will comply with the high court's ruling and decide whether to
regulate carbon dioxide. It was unlikely they would be satisfied with the
lengthy process laid out by the president.
Bush has said previously that he recognizes the serious environmental
problems created by such emissions and other so-called greenhouse gases. But
he has urged against anything other than a voluntary approach, saying
regulations could undercut economic activity.
There were few details immediately available about how the rules might look,
but White House press secretary Tony Snow said Monday that the president's
position has not changed.
"The market-based approach seems to work," Snow said. "The question is: do
you try to set up a mandatory system or do you try to set up an
innovation-based system. The president prefers innovation."
The environmental group Environmental Defense said the effort "will fall far
short of fixing the climate problem" without mandatory caps on carbon
emissions.
"Whether EPA will lead the fight against global warming or lead us to a
hotter planet remains to be seen," said Environmental Defense President Fred
Krupp. "It's time for this administration to join with the mainstream of
American businesses and support a cap on carbon."
In his State of the Union address in January, Bush set a goal of reducing
gas consumption by 20 percent over 10 years. Under his plan, this would be
accomplished by increasing the use of alternative fuels to 35 billion
gallons by 2017 and boosting fuel efficiency standards in new vehicles.
The president said Monday that the agencies should use this so-called
"20-in-10 plan" as a starting point for the new regulations, while saying he
still wants Congress to approve the plan legislatively.
"When it comes to energy and the environment, the American people expect
common sense and they expect action," Bush said. "We're taking action by
taking the first steps toward rules that will make our economy stronger, our
environment cleaner and our nation more secure for generations to come."
Bush Sets Deadline for Emissions Rules
NewsMax.com Wires Monday, May 14, 2007
WASHINGTON -- President Bush responded Monday to a Supreme Court ruling by
ordering federal agencies to find a way to begin regulating vehicle
emissions by the time he leaves office.
In a Rose Garden announcement, Bush said he wanted to move ahead, pending
any separate legislative approaches. The new rules will "cut gasoline
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles," he said.
But the Bush executive order telling several agencies to finish the work by
2008 also said they must take into account the views of the general public,
the impact the new rules would have on safety, scientific knowledge,
available technology and the cost. Bush's term ends Jan. 20, 2009.
"This is a complex legal and technical matter and it's going to take time to
fully resolve," he said.
The agencies involved include the departments of Transportation, Agriculture
and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Last month, the Supreme Court rebuked the Bush administration for its
inaction on global warming. In a 5-4 decision, it declared that carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants under the Clean
Air Act and thus can be regulated by the EPA.
The court also said that the "laundry list" of reasons the administration
has given for declining to do so are insufficient, and that the EPA must
regulate carbon dioxide, the leading gas linked to global warming, if it
finds that it endangers public health.
Democrats who control Congress have been pressuring the administration to
say when it will comply with the high court's ruling and decide whether to
regulate carbon dioxide. It was unlikely they would be satisfied with the
lengthy process laid out by the president.
Bush has said previously that he recognizes the serious environmental
problems created by such emissions and other so-called greenhouse gases. But
he has urged against anything other than a voluntary approach, saying
regulations could undercut economic activity.
There were few details immediately available about how the rules might look,
but White House press secretary Tony Snow said Monday that the president's
position has not changed.
"The market-based approach seems to work," Snow said. "The question is: do
you try to set up a mandatory system or do you try to set up an
innovation-based system. The president prefers innovation."
The environmental group Environmental Defense said the effort "will fall far
short of fixing the climate problem" without mandatory caps on carbon
emissions.
"Whether EPA will lead the fight against global warming or lead us to a
hotter planet remains to be seen," said Environmental Defense President Fred
Krupp. "It's time for this administration to join with the mainstream of
American businesses and support a cap on carbon."
In his State of the Union address in January, Bush set a goal of reducing
gas consumption by 20 percent over 10 years. Under his plan, this would be
accomplished by increasing the use of alternative fuels to 35 billion
gallons by 2017 and boosting fuel efficiency standards in new vehicles.
The president said Monday that the agencies should use this so-called
"20-in-10 plan" as a starting point for the new regulations, while saying he
still wants Congress to approve the plan legislatively.
"When it comes to energy and the environment, the American people expect
common sense and they expect action," Bush said. "We're taking action by
taking the first steps toward rules that will make our economy stronger, our
environment cleaner and our nation more secure for generations to come."
