Overview
The EPA sets the current motor vehicle emissions standards, however, California, a leader in the "green movement," wants to set their own standards. The EPA used to allow California the right to change their standards, but in 2008 those rights were taken away. For California's laws to be passed (before the 2008 cut of time period) the EPA's state regulations had to be cut, and California's new laws had to be adopted. The question of whether or not the EPA was right to deny such waiver is what is being evaluated. Who has the most successful plan in lowering GHG emissions? Obama gave the rights to manipulate laws to the EPA; they are responsible for changing any of their laws to better suit the American persons, and to improve the current conditions by following the laws and regulations of the Clean Air Act.
Summary
-California Emissions: The EPA can be questioned if they refute an ideal from states on whether or not they can regulate their own motor vehicle emissions. If the states prove that they will further benefit the Clean Energies issue/reverse global climate change, then the EPA should consider such notions. (January 26, 2009).
Functions
Clean Air Act Basic Overview:
The Clean Air Act is put in hold of power in order to regulate emissions of mobile and immobile sources by setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards per state, in order to better the present public health situations, and prevent future public health dilemmas. From 1977 to 1990, states have not been able to match their regulation standards which were put in place to limit toxins from affecting persons on a severe level. "Major sources," are those that emit 10 tons per year or more of one hazardous air pollutant, or 25 tons per year or more of a mix of hazardous air pollutants. Major sources are the main focus for the Clean Air Act, and such sources are regulated by maximum achievable control technology which gets reevaluated every eight years to see if the technology used is efficient and up to date.
Briefing of Reformed Policy
The EPA should work side-by-side with California's Departments for Energy and Environmental Protection in order to ensure a better, healthier future for all states. Other states recommendations and regulations should be accessed by the EPA and considered along with California's suggestions.
New incentives need to be put in place because there are thousands of premature deaths within the United States, and two to three million deaths worldwide due to air pollution each year (Kraft, Environmental Policy and Politics, Chp. 2), and will continue to worsen if there aren't dramatic cuts in the emission standards (World Bank).
Not only should our emissions be dramatically reduced, but new energy resources need to be harnessed. Educational opportunities need to be administrated, possibly even offering incentives to those who take classes in the environmental field, or the social sciences that deal with the pollution solution and issue today.
New regulation standards are in order. There was evident progress seen when CFCs were banned, we need to put serious cuts on GHGs, otherwise our damage to the planet will become irreversible. We need to develop better short term and long term developing methods. Environmental clean up and health care are far too expensive due to the heavy amounts of polluting. We need to revamp our economic plan by focusing our money on cleaning up the environment so that the tax money that we pay towards clean up and health care are minimized, so that new energy source research and development can be maximized.
Future Objectives
Through regulation and evaluation of California's Proposals:
- Diversify Energy Sources
- Dramatically cut emissions (short and long term help and health)
- Help better Energy Efficiency through strict Regulation and Incentives
Offices Affected
- Environmental Protection Agency
- State Departments of Energy: Pollution Prevention Programs
- State Departments for Environmental Protection
Objectives in Action
a. Topic
i. Audience and People Affected
ii. Research
iii. Approach on Topic
iv. Related Government and Groups
v. Stages to Policy Process
vi. Maximize Support, Minimize Resistance
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