EPA starts public hearing on greenhouse gas

A month ago, the EPA officially ruled that greenhouse gases (e.g., CO₂) are harmful to human health because they, among other negative impacts, damage the environment and can raise sea levels and cause more wildfires. Tomorrow, the EPA will hold its first public hearing on the finding. The meeting is scheduled to go for 11 hours in a conference center in Arlington, Va., but will continue as needed" to accommodate all members of the public who wish to comment." It's going to be a full day. Green Car Congress reports that, even with comments limited to four minutes each, all slots from 9am to 8pm are already full. The schedule for a second hearing, coming May 21 in Seattle, are also all booked.

Written comments will be accepted until June 23rd, and you can trust that many of the players we cover on AutoblogGreen will be involved in this discussion. An audio webcast of tomorrow's hearing will be available here tomorrow and you can find more information here and here.

[Source: EPA, Green Car Congress, photo: NASA]


PRESS RELEASE:

EPA Hearing on Proposed Endangerment Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act

(Washington, D.C. – May 15, 2009) EPA will hold the first of two public hearings on Monday, May 18 regarding the agency's proposed findings that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare. The proposed findings identify six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat.

The hearing is an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to voice their opinions on the proposed findings.

WHAT: Public hearing on the proposed endangerment and cause and contribute findings

WHEN: Monday, May 18th, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The hearing will continue into the evening to accommodate all members of the public who wish to comment.

WHERE: EPA Potomac Yard South Conference Center
2777 Crystal Drive, Room S-1204
Arlington, Va.

Written comments will be accepted until June 23, 2009. EPA will consider written comments submitted during the comment period with the same weight as oral comments presented during the public hearing.

More information on the hearing and for the audio webcast of the hearing: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment/hearing_washington-may18.html

More information on the proposed finding: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.html