Comments on: Clear Skies Act

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 23:23:38 +0000

I find it of much more than academic interest that Clear Skies may actually increase pollutant levels in some areas (Los Angeles) that can least afford it. Although annoying to industry, current state-based standards reflect very real differences in population and topography. A cap-and-trade scheme that does not address this issue would be a disaster for a large number of us…

By: locussolus

locussolus — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 21:58:09 +0000

Loopholes and exemptions

Josh Claybourn has a post defending the Clear Skies Act, but he doesn’t say anything about New Source Review (NSR). This might be because the bulk of the changes to NSR have happened over the past couple years, so that the provisions in Clear Skies th…

By: Balta

Balta — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 17:09:08 +0000

Then in that case, if I understand your interpretation correctly, what you’re telling me is that in order to be able to pass the parts of the bill that would improve the current situation – such as the reforming of the lawsuit-driven system which you describe well in your posts, I just have to be willing to turn a blind eye to the fact that they’re weakening the actual limits at the same time?
So if you ask why the Times and others should oppose a “good bill on the shaky grounds that it doesn’t go far enough”, let me respond with this question; why is weakening the current standards such an important part of this bill?

By: Joshua Claybourn

Joshua Claybourn — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 16:42:06 +0000

Thanks Balta, but I’ve already read it – and others – as part of an environmental law program. Those readings, and the NY Times column, prompted the post.

By: Balta

Balta — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 16:37:19 +0000

If you’re looking for a better source than the ones provided by the Sierra Club and the EPA:
Back in 2003, Congress commissioned the National Academy of Sciences to create a report on the proposed Clear Skies act. A preliminary version of their report was released back in January, and the findings of that report said that for virtually every pollutant that would come under the umbrella of clear skies, the current law is more stringent (the final report is due later this year).
The report is linked to here – its 160 pages if you want to read it.