Eric Groten Presentation

8/11/2019 Eric Groten Presentation

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CLEAN AIR ACTREGULATION OF GHG:

EPAS ADVENTURES INWONDERLAND

AS TOLD BY ERIC GROTEN

Texas Public Policy Foundation Energy-Climate Summit

September 25, 2014


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THE SUPREME COURT

INHALES DEEPLY

A well-documented rise in global temperatures has coincided with a

significant increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the

. .

when carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, it acts like the

ceiling of a greenhouse, trapping solar energy and retarding the escape of

reflected heat. It is therefore a speciesthe most important speciesof a

greenhouse gas.

Justice John Paul Stevens,Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007)


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T H E C O U R T N E G L E C T S I T SR E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S : A R T I C L E I I I S T A N D I N G


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WORDS VANISH FROM THE

STATUTE


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H OW A CONS T I T U ENT OF CLEA NA I R B EC OM ES AN AI R P OL LU TA NT

302 (g) The term air pollutant means any air pollution agent or

combination of such agents, including any physical, chemical, biological,

, ,

byproduct material) substance or matter which is emitted into or

otherwise enters the ambient air. Such term includes any precursors to the

formation of any air pollutant, to the extent the Administrator has

identified such precursor or precursors for the particular purpose for

which the term air pollutant is used.


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TH E C OURT S TART S ORD ER I NGT HE OT HER B R ANC HES A ROUN D


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NO T IME TO S AY HEL LO.

GOODBYE!


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I M L A T E , I M L A T E , I M L A T E , F O RS O M E V E R Y I M P O R T A N T D AT E S

Endangerment Finding (Dec. 2009)

.

Tailpipe Rule (May 2010)

Tailoring Rule (June 2010)


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A ND S TART S ORD ERI NG S TATES AST HOU GH I T S S U B JECT S


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GENERAL IRRATIONALITY

ENSUES

PSD for a global pollutant

Local impact assessments ignored

BACT required for something for which there is no CT

Permits triggered by GHG emissions require NHPA and

ESA analyses unlinked to GHG emissions


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AS DOES POWER-MADNESS


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TH E D. C. CI RC UI T F OL LOWS EPAI NT O T H E R A B B I T H OLE


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T H E S U P R E M E C O U R T B E G I N S T OR E C O G N I Z E I T M A Y H AV E A P R O B L E M :

U A R G V . E PA


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THE COURT PASSES ON GHG-

TRIGGERED PERMITS


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SCORING UARG

Five justices: The Clean Air Act neither compels nor allows

permits to be required on the sole basis of GHG emissions

Seven justices: The Clean Air Act does allow EPA to adopt rules

requiring anyway sources to undergo BACT

Two justices: Massachusettswas wrongly decided

Four justices: EPA can do whatever it wants


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EPA REMAINS INDENIAL


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BUT THE SUPR EME COU RT MAYHAVE HA D EN OUG H

We are not willing to stand on the dock and wave goodbye as EPA

embarks on this multiyear voyage of discovery.


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WHATS LEFT FOR GHG

UNDER THE CAA?

NSPS and ESPS

Rule-specific endangerment findings?

Demonstrations of benefits?

More rulemaking petitions

Source-specific rules (mobile and stationarysources)

NAAQS


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WHATS THE POINT?

If you dont know where youre going, any roadwill get you there.

Documents

Eric Groten Presentation