EPA's Clean Air Act in a chokehold?
Bloomberg reports that the EPA could face a new obstacle in its efforts to enforce clean air and water rules, as it stands to lose $1.6 billion in funding as part of a deal between President Obama and congressional leaders to cut the federal budget by $38 billion.
A detailed plan on where the cuts will be made is due in 30 days; in the meantime it's unclear how cuts might affect enforcement efforts.
Another challenge faces the EPA -- last week the House of Representatives passed a bill that bans regulations on greenhouse gases, which were authorized under the Clean Air Act.
The bill, passed by 236 Republicans and 19 Democrats, was seen by supporters as a response to the EPA's "overreaching" and the restraints EPA requirements place on farmers and industry.
But what affect could this actually have?
The Union of Concerned Scientists has tracked the benefits of the Clean Air Act (which went into effect in 1970). Their tally? They track net benefits of over $49 trillion and counting. In 2010, the Clean Air Act prevented an estimated 160,000 deaths. By 2020, they estimate that 230,000 deaths will be prevented annually.
All this raises the question of who really stands to benefit if the enforcement of the Clean Air Act continues to erode?
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coolplanet
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It will require a climate catastrophy in this country for Americans to do something about greenhouse gas emmisions and by that time it will be too late, if it isn't too late already.
- 1 year ago
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coolplanet
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JanforGore
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"All this raises the question of who really stands to benefit if the enforcement of the Clean Air Act continues to erode?"
I would think that answer was obvious. The very same ones polluting the air and water! When I think of all of the years people have worked to ensure that our air and water were clean just to see it all pushed aside by political "deals" it is clear that politics is just as toxic as our environment and is immoral to the core. Shame on this administration for not standing firm for the health of our environment and people simply to appease those who support this assault on it just to gain political points. It's sickening.
- 1 year ago
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JanforGore
