U.S. EPA: Greenhouse Gases "Threaten the Public Health and Welfare of the American People"

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today (7 December 2009) that greenhouse gases (GHGs) threaten the public health and welfare of the American people; and that on-road vehicles contribute to that threat.

Specifically, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson signed two findings regarding greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act:

• Endangerment Finding: The Administrator found that the current and projected concentrations of six key greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide or CO₂) in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.
• Cause or Contribute Finding: The Administrator found that the combined emissions of the greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles contribute that endangerment.

“These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history as the year when the United States Government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

Predictably, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, announced that it would sue EPA "on the grounds that EPA has ignored major scientific issues."

More information on the EPA's final endangerment finding is available from EPA's Web site, including:

• Findings
• Technical Support Document
• Response to Comment Documents
• Press Release
• Press Kit
  • Legal Basis (PDF) (1 p., 117 KB, About PDF)
  • Health Effects (PDF) (1 p., 95 KB, About PDF)
  • Environmental and Welfare Effects (PDF) (1 p., 45 KB, About PDF)
  • Climate Change Facts (PDF) (1 p., 39 KB, About PDF)
  • Light Duty Vehicle Program (PDF) (1 p., 39 KB, About PDF)
  • Timeline (PDF) (1 p., 30 KB, About PDF)
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) (3 pp., 38 KB, About PDF)