EPA Welcomes Public Comments – Do Greenhouse Gases Contribute to Air Pollution?

EPA Hearing on Proposed Endangerment Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act

The EPA will hold the first of two public hearings on Monday, May 18 regarding the agency’s proposed findings that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare, but written comments will be accepted until June 23, 2009.

On April 2, 2007, in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007), the Supreme Court found that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act. The Court held that the Administrator must determine whether or not emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare, or whether the science is too uncertain to make a reasoned decision.

• The Administrator is proposing to find that the current and projected concentrations of the mix of six key greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆)—in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. This is referred to as the endangerment finding.
• The Administrator is further proposing to find that the combined emissions of CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and HFCs from new motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines contribute to the atmospheric concentrations of these key greenhouse gases and hence to the threat of climate change. This is referred to as the cause or contribute finding.

Technical analyses developed in support of the Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under the Clean Air Act may be found here:

• Technical Support Document for the Proposed Findings (PDF) (171 pp, 2.8MB, About PDF)

The EPA will consider written comments submitted during the comment period with the same weight as oral comments presented during the public hearing.

If you do not have access to a computer to hear the proceedings via the audio web stream, at 9:00 a.m. EDT, you may dial into a conference line as follows:

Number: 866.299.3188
Code: 2023439107

The hearing is an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to voice their opinions on the proposed findings.

WHAT:   Public hearing on the proposed endangerment and cause and contribute findings

WHEN:   Monday, May 18th, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The hearing will continue into the evening to accommodate all members of the public who wish to comment.

WHERE:  EPA Potomac Yard South Conference Center
2777 Crystal Drive, Room S-1204
Arlington, Va.

More information on the hearing and for the audio webcast of the hearing:  http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment/hearing_washington-may18.html

Contact: (News Media Only) Cathy Milbourn 202-564-7849 / 4355 / milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
All Other Inquiries: Erin Birgfeld, birgfeld.erin@epa.gov

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2. Exxon Pays Mr. Happy to Tell the Senate That We Need More Greenhouse Gases
3. How Do Your Needs Balance the Amount of Resources You Use VS. Harm That You Contribute to the Environment?