JLVernonPhD presents "American SciCo"

Update: 3/10/11 11:48am - From The Hill’s Energy and Environment Blog:

“Republicans approved legislation to block Environmental Protection Agency climate rules in a key House subcommittee Thursday, the first step in a wide-ranging GOP effort to stop the agency from regulating greenhouse-gas emissions. Read More…”

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Update: 3/10/11 10:23am - The Democrats on the Energy and Power subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have decided not to offer amendments to the Republican sponsored Energy Tax Prevention Act.  Henry Waxman (D-CA) has stated, “We will certainly revisit the issue when it [the bill] gets to full Committee.”  This assumes that the bill will pass the Subcommittee, which in itself is unacceptable, but at least we should expect to see some real resistance from the Dems in the full committee.  Keep your eyes on this bill.

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We have some real problems in our nation’s capitol, these days.  I’ve witnessed some ridiculous policies and programs sponsored by the Republicans, but things are getting scary.  Look I’ve got to say this.  I don’t want to criticize the Republicans, but they are literally putting the entire country (and perhaps the world) in a perilous position.  I hope that before you finish reading this post you will think of a way to intervene and make your voice heard. 

At 9 a.m. today, the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power will vote on the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.  Most likely, they will have enough votes to pass the Republican sponsored “Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011”.  A summary of the Act can be found on the Open Congress website.  It reads:

“H.R.910 - Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 - To amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change, and for other purposes.”
 
This is where I get incredibly frustrated.  What do the Republicans think EPA was designed to do if not regulate the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants?

This should clear it up a little.  EPA was created by an executive order from President Richard Nixon via the Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970.  In this plan, President Nixon clearly states,

“Our national government today is not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants which debase the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land that grows our food. Indeed, the present governmental structure for dealing with environmental pollution often defies effective and concerted action.”

and

“In organizational terms, this requires pulling together into one agency a variety of research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities now scattered through several departments and agencies. It also requires that the new agency include sufficient support elements—in research and in aids to State and local anti-pollution programs, for example—to give it the needed strength and potential for carrying out its mission.”

President Nixon went on to specify the roles and functions of EPA to include:   

* The establishment and enforcement of environmental protection standards consistent with national environmental goals.
* The conduct of research on the adverse effects of pollution and on methods and equipment for controlling it, the gathering of information on pollution, and the use of this information in strengthening environmental protection programs and recommending policy changes.
* Assisting others, through grants, technical assistance and other means in arresting pollution of the environment.
* Assisting the Council on Environmental Quality in developing and recommending to the President new policies for the protection of the environment.

So, my question is, how can this Subcommittee pass a bill that completely undermines the mission of the agency? 

A look at a statement from the Chairman of the Committee, Ed Whitfield, sums it up.  In his statement, Chairman Whitfield in no uncertain terms argues that the EPA should not regulate greenhouse gases because these regulations will “impose an unfair disadvantage on domestic manufacturers”.  OK, so I hear his reasons for not approving these regulations, but who is truly at fault in this situation?

Is the EPA at fault for carrying out its duties to protect the quality of our air?  Or, are our domestic manufacturers at fault for using manufacturing processes that pollute our air?  I think the answer to these questions is clear, but Chairman Whitfield and members of the subcommittee appear to be blinded by their economic agenda which apparently is “profits at all costs”. 

Shockingly, Chairman Whitfield justifies his position by stating “that unilateral action by EPA would not make much difference, especially given the fact that China emits more greenhouse gases than the US…”  To me, this sounds like a teenage boy arguing with his parents that he should be allowed to smoke, because “Bobby’s parents let him do it, so why can’t I?”  I don’t have to tell you the response from most parents, do I?

To say the least, I’m troubled.  I’m troubled that some in our government are trying to undermine the EPA mission.  I’m troubled that they are justifying their actions by referencing the economic impact rather than acknowledging that the manufacturers are at fault here.  I’m troubled that they are shamelessly ignoring the warnings from scientists that not imposing regulations on greenhouse gases will lead to increased carbon dioxide emissions. 

I encourage you to take five minutes to contact any of the members on this committee and express your concern.  You can find the list of committee members here.  This will be your first opportunity to influence the path of this bill as it makes its way through the legislative process.  Killing this bill in the subcommittee would be a tremendous success for science and the environment.