Next week, Seattle will be a hotbed of protest and debate over the regulation of greenhouse gases.
After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding that six greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide — endanger public health and contribute to air pollution.
Next
week, the EPA will hold just two hearings on the matter. The first will
be next Monday, May 18 in Arlington, Va. and the second will be on
Thursday, May 21 at Bell Harbor International Conference Center in downtown Seattle. These
hearings, particularly the one in Seattle, are significant in many
ways. First, politically, this is shaping up as a battle between the
White House and Congress over where the changes are made. Second, an
endangerment finding by EPA would trigger regulation of greenhouse gas
emissions under the federal Clean Air Act and pre-empt congressional
debate on an issue that would impact all sectors of the struggling
economy.
AWB believes policy decisions related to greenhouse gas
are best made at the federal level by Congress and not through agencies
like the EPA, and is coordinating testimony with a cross-section of business groups, including Associated Oregon Industries, National Association of Manufacturers, Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Western States Petroleum Association.
Everything you need to know about the public hearing and directions on how to get there is available here. Testimony is being taken on a reservations-only basis, and as of last Friday, there were just a few evening spots left. Written comments may also be submitted but must be received by June 23.
The National Association of Manufacturers has established a Web site that allows you to comment on the EPA's "endangerment finding" and sign onto a letter that will be submitted to the federal agency, as well.
