clean air act

The White House is trying to block the U.S. EPA from releasing a document that shows how the Clean Air Act could be used to regulate greenhouse gases.

In a victory for environmentalists, and a setback for big U.S. coal-burning utilities, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the EPA violated the Clean Air Act in 2005 when it exempted coal plants from the strictest emission controls for mercury and other toxic substances.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senator Barbera Boxer, introduced legislation today that would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant California a waiver under the Clean Air Act to cut global warming pollution from motor vehicles.

Stephen Johnson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, says EPA does not have to regulate CO2 and adds that his California vehicle emissions waiver decision may be deferred to 2008. He also discusses the issue of expansion of US refineries. Moderated by Grant Stockdale.

The full Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a business meeting to consider legislation, including the approved California waiver decision deadline bill and the Toxic Right to Know Protection Act.