Tuesday, April 03, 2007

US Supreme Court rebuke Bush administration on emissions

From Findlaw: U.S. Supreme Court rebukes Bush administration on greenhouse gas emissions.

"The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the federal government on Monday to take a fresh look at regulating carbon dioxide emissions from cars, a rebuke to Bush administration policy on global warming.

In a 5-4 decision, the court said the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from cars...

The court had three questions before it.

-Do states have the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision?

-Does the Clean Air Act give EPA the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases?

-Does EPA have the discretion not to regulate those emissions?

The court said yes to the first two questions. On the third, it ordered EPA to re-evaluate its contention it has the discretion not to regulate tailpipe emissions. The court said the agency has so far provided a "laundry list" of reasons that include foreign policy considerations."

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