Technocrat

Court Rules for State's Rights on Air Quality

zogger
Wed Aug 20 16:50:00 -0700 2008
Environment.
manage

The Circuit Court in the District of Columbia has ruled that States can impose their own air quality monitoring requirements for major air pollution. The suit was the Sierra Club vs the EPA. The feds haven't indicated if they will appeal the decision yet.

Excellent...

Chuck Burgess
Thu Aug 21 06:54:00 -0700 2008
 manage

w00t... glad to see my membership dues in action...

Court Rules for State's Rights on Air Quality
AB3A
Thu Aug 21 10:01:19 -0700 2008
 manage

The ruling had to do with the right of states to monitor smoke-stack emmissions from refineries, coal fired power plants, and the like.  I can envision it being very useful for intra-state emmission monitoring.  Maryland, for instance, has a State EPA (MEPA) charged with monitoring pollution from industry among other things.  However, it will be interesting to see if this right extends across state lines.

For instance, could Pennsylvania monitor the smoke stacks in Michigan, even if Michigan doesn't?  Could Pennsylvania sue an electric utility based in Michigan for EPA air quality act violations? Pollution doesn't obey borders...

I smell a Supreme Court Case in the not too distant future. 

Court Rules for State's Rights on Air Quality
phred14
Fri Aug 22 05:35:20 -0700 2008
 manage

Presuming a change in administration, I wonder how soon this ruling will be used to allow states to relax air quality requirements, too.

 

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