Justices limit existing EPA global warming rules
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday placed limits on the sole Obama administration program already in place to deal with power plant and factory emissions of gases blamed for global warming.
The justices said that the Environmental Protection Agency lacks authority in some cases to force companies to evaluate ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This rule applies when a company needs a permit to expand facilities or build new ones that would increase overall pollution. Carbon dioxide is the chief gas linked to global warming.
The decision does not affect EPA proposals for first-time national standards for new and existing power plants. The most recent proposal aims at a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but wont take effect for at least another two years.
The outcome also preserves EPAs authority over facilities that already emit pollutants that the agency regulates other than greenhouse gases.
Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the court, said EPA is getting almost everything it wanted in this case. Scalia said the agency wanted to regulate 86 percent of all greenhouse gases emitted from plants nationwide. The agency will be able to regulate 83 percent of the emissions under the ruling, Scalia said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/justices-limit-existing-epa-global-warming-rules/2014/06/23/a6966718-fae0-11e3-9f27-09f20b8bfd1a_story.html?wpisrc=al_comboPN_p