High Court Approves EPA Rule Reducing Greenhouse Gases
The EPA rule categorizing greenhouse gases as a pollutant has now been approved by the US Supreme Court. As these gases have found to be harmful to the climate, due to the inability to dissipate once released into the air, they will now be further regulated. The gases are found in ventilation and air conditioning systems, fire protection systems, vehicles, refrigeration and cooling units, power plants, and a number of other man-made processes.
The Supreme Court ruling endorses the EPA rule which states that greenhouse gases “may endanger public health and welfare”. The federal agency may now enforce regulations under the US Clean Air Act and control pollutants that cause global warming. The authority is binding and will be even if the U.S. Congress fails to ratify.
Passed on April 17, 2009, the EPA rule stresses strict regulations on carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases. These offenders have been shown to harm the public and the environment and the endangerment finding puts those facilities that use certain chemicals on notice that they must begin phasing out usage and turning to alternatives.
The US Supreme Court’s approval of the EPA rule has triggered a 60 day public comment period. Once these 60 days have passed, the findings would be entered into the Federal Register, which will force the EPA to implement the rules and regulations associated, if the U.S. Congress has not moved to enact a law by that time.
Following the recent EPA rule, facilities using environmentally harmful chemicals are accelerating efforts to find cost effective and efficient ways to track and report their emissions. Global leaders, including the Obama administration, have pledged to improve air quality for all and to reduce global warming.
A huge amount of greenhouse gases are discharged in the United States, with more than 7,000,000,000 tons recorded each year. The EPA rule is aimed at reducing these harmful emissions and certain industries are the worst offenders. Facilities using refrigerant gas, industrial sources, motor vehicle production, coal-fired power plants — are all primary offenders.
Following the previously approved EPA rule and this most recent court ruling, facilities are turning to software applications to assist them in their refrigerant tracking. Regulations insist that they track the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons, found in refrigerant gas.
The current phaseout of refrigerant gases used in commercial cooling, air conditioning and fire suppression systems, is in addition to the EPA rule. Also, the new US administration has plans to include a cap and trade system to encourage companies to invest in greener methods. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has begun its work to issue its final ruling and to propose environmental standards that must be complied with in order to avoid penalties and fines.