This video of Rep. Ted Poe (R-Tex.) speaking about compact fluorescent light bulbs is approaching 3 million views on YouTube. Poe outlines the dangers of using compact fluorescent bulbs, which will replace the reliable incandescent light bulb beginning in 2012. As Heritage’s own Dani Doane knows, when one of these CFL bulbs breaks, it takes some serious work to clean up the mess. Because the bulbs contain mercury, you better be prepared by reading the Environmental Protection Agency’s lengthy clean-up process. [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg[/youtube]
Environmentalists had a busy month trying to force federal government action on global warming. In the Senate, Environment and Public Works Committee chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) grilled the Interior Department over delays in deciding whether or not to list the polar bear as an endangered species. In the courts, some liberal state AGs and activist groups sued the EPA in federal court for their decision to seek public comment on whether or not carbon emissions qualified for an endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act. One wishes they would try …
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen Johnson announced that the agency will respond to the Supreme Court’s Massachusetts v. EPA decision by issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on the question of regulating carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act. This prudent step allows for valuable information gathering without committing the agency to costly and ill-advised steps. This is all the more true given the very real fears that a wrong move could lead to an endless regulatory morass – the last …
Liberals in Congress and environmentalists are predictably apoplectic over the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to seek public comment before issuing regulations under the Clean Air Act on carbon emissions. House Energy Independence and Global Warming Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) accused the Bush administration of “running out the clock” on global warming, and Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said the EPA has had nearly year since the Supreme Court directed the agency to act on carbon emissions but, “now, instead of action, we get more foot-dragging.” Funny …
The Heritage Foundation applauds the announcement by EPA administrator Stephen Johnson that the agency will respond to the Supreme Court’s Massachusetts v. EPA decision by issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on the question of regulating carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act. It is critical not to impose unnecessary regulatory costs on the economy, as would surely be the case if the agency took irreversible steps to regulate at this time, in uncertain economic times this is all the more true. Thus, an …
Writing up yesterday’s House Select Committee for energy Independence and Global Warming hearing, Washington Post columnist Al Kamen takes EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to task for referring to Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent in his testimony instead of Justice Paul Stevens majority opinion. Kamen seems to think this proves Johnson is ignorant of the law, but a quick look at Kamen’s reporting and the actual wording in the majority opinion exposes who the real ignoramus is. Kamen asserts that the decision in Massachusetts v. EPA “required [Johnson] to come up with …
For months now, Heritage has warned against any effort by the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide or other so-called greenhouse gas emissions on the grounds that they would lead to an extremely costly and burdensome Pandora’s Box under the Clean Air Act. Even though EPA’s action would at first deal only with motor vehicles any finding that carbon dioxide is a harmful pollutant would spark onerous constraints on perhaps a million or more businesses and farms that use energy or generate greenhouse gas emissions. The costs would be well in …
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced its decision to tighten the ozone standard to 75 parts per billion in an effort to strengthen public health safety for asthmatics, children, and the elderly and to limit environmental damage to vegetation and ecosystems. Yet, the policy in place already proves to be stringent enough and the high costs associated with lowering the standard will likely outweigh any benefits. In its Regulatory Impact Analysis, EPA estimates that tightening the standard to 75 parts per billion would prevent a number of additional adverse …
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a waiver of Clean Air Act Preemption for California’s greenhouse gas emission standards. EPA administrator Stephen Johnson signed the 48-page Federal Register Notice claiming that California does not have “compelling and extraordinary conditions” justified to set stricter standards than federal law allows under The Clean Air Act. Just yesterday, Representatives Peter Welch (D-VT) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced legislation to overturn the denial and allow states to implement costly regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Clear and compelling evidence is necessary for …
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a waiver of Clean Air Act Preemption for California’s greenhouse gas emission standards. EPA administrator Stephen Johnson signed the 48-page Federal Register Notice claiming that California does not have “compelling and extraordinary conditions” justified to set stricter standards than federal law allows under The Clean Air Act. To no surprise, the decision is already facing much criticism and has California lawmakers and environmentalists across the country outraged. An editorial in yesterday’s New York Times claims that the denial is a “serious blow” …
