Gov't Study Backs Calif. Emission Rules

[cal04]

A government report released Thursday does not recommend giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to stop states from adopting tough vehicle-emission standards similar to those in California. In a setback for automakers, the National Academies' National Research Council said California's role in setting emission standards has been scientifically valid and necessary because of persistent pollution in parts of the nation's most populous state.

The study, eagerly anticipated by the auto industry and environmentalists, examined emissions standards for mobile sources such as cars, light trucks and construction vehicles. The panel found that substantial progress has been made in reducing emissions but more needs to be done to meet federal air-quality standards in many parts of the country.

California, which began regulating pollution before the federal government, has the authority under the Clean Air Act to set its own vehicle pollution standards. States can adopt either the federal standards or California's rules, and some Northeastern and Western states have followed California's lead. Some environmental groups had feared the study might be used by Congress to put restrictions on states' abilities to choose the California regulations. But the committee said it disagreed over ways to improve the process by which states adopt California's standards.

``What role EPA is to have in the state adoption process is a policy decision that goes beyond scientific and technical considerations,'' the researchers said. The report said the EPA needs to play a role in an improved process. The committee offered two recommendations: The EPA could help by providing formal but nonbinding guidance, or it could grant or (under limited circumstances) deny waivers allowing states to adopt the California rules. The panel disagreed over which would be most effective.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5690279,00.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. the GUARDIAN? Where the hell is US MSM?

I am glad that someone is reporting this with AP credentials, but really.

[phantom power]

2. The implicit assumption here is...

that the EPA, or any other wholly-owned BushCo subsidiary, is going to actually give a shit about this report. Commissioning reports, and then ignoring them, is practically their trademark.

[Dead_Parrot]

3. Sigh...

...giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to stop states from adopting tough vehicle-emission standards...
:wtf:
Could somebody explain to me why this department is called the "Environmental Protection Agency"? The name suggests it might be there to actually protect the enviroment.

:argh:

[phantom power]

4. War is peace, slavery is freedom...