On
Wednesday December 19th, EPA administrator Stephen Johnson announced
that he was denying a waiver for California allowed under the Clean Air
Act for that state, and by extension all states including Connecticut,
to tackle one of the largest and fastest growing sources of greenhouse
gas emissions – cars and trucks. If allowed to stand, this decision
would effectively block Connecticut’s enforcement of tailpipe emission
standards for global warming pollutants. Those standards are a key part
of the Clean Cars Law enacted by the legislature and signed into law in
2004.
Statement of Environment Connecticut Program Director Christopher Phelps:
Hartford
- “The EPA has chosen to ignore the science behind global warming and
the Clean Air Act and bowed to political pressure from automobile
industry and their friends in the White House. In doing so, the Bush
Administration is blocking Connecticut’s efforts to tackle global
warming and dramatically reduce harmful air pollutants.
This
decision severely hamstrings the ability of states to take action in
the face of inaction and foot dragging by the federal government on the
most serious environmental, economic and quality of life issue facing
our generation.
Transportation is one of the largest sources of global warming pollution in Connecticut and across the nation.
Connecticut
and fifteen other states have adopted, or are in the process of
adopting California’s motor vehicle emissions standards. The EPA’s
denial of California’s waiver request effectively removes one of
Connecticut’s most powerful global warming pollution reduction tools
from our toolbox.
The Clean Cars Law was
passed with nearly unanimous support by the legislature in 2004. A May
2007 report released by Environment Connecticut found that the Clean
Cars tailpipe standard would reduce global warming pollution from Cars
on the road in Connecticut 19% by 2020. Unfortunately, the Bush
administration has chosen to turn its back on this effort by
Connecticut, and fifteen other states, to stop global warming.
We’re
confident that the courts will overturn this decision and will once
again explain the meaning of the Clean Air Act to the Bush
Administration and automakers.
Gov. Rell
should join with Gov. Schwarzenegger, and governors of other Clean Car
states, in overturning this “head in the sand” decision by the EPA and
continue moving forward with making Connecticut a leader in the fight
against global warming.”
