EPA Issues Proposed “Endangerment” Finding For Greenhouse Gases

On April 17, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally proposed to make a finding that carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases to be pollutants that threaten public health and welfare. The declaration, available at this link, sets in motion a process where the United States will be able to regulate gases blamed for global warming. The proposed endangerment finding triggers a 60-day comment period before EPA can issue a final finding.

EPA proposed a finding that current and projected levels of six greenhouse (GHGs) endangered public health and welfare. The six GHGs are: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The EPA noted that the combination of four of the GHGs – CO2, CH4, N2O, and HFCs – emitted from motor vehicles and engines caused or contributed to concentration of atmospheric gases and thus threatened climate change. The cause or