Report: Lawyer in CA Emissions Case to Join EPA
As rational individuals everywhere cheer today's White House move to expedite California's auto emissions standards, there comes another encouraging sign from inside the Environmental Protection Agency.
As reported late Friday night by Carbon Control News, a subscription-only website that reports on D.C. climate change issues:
Georgetown Law Professor Lisa Heinzerling, the lead author of plaintiffs' briefs in the landmark Supreme Court case that found EPA has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, has taken a job with EPA to advise incoming Administrator Lisa Jackson on how to address climate change, according to a knowledgeable source. ...
In a Jan. 23 memo to all EPA employees, incoming EPA administrator Jackson listed climate change as the first of five priorities for the agency, and said "we will move ahead to comply with the Supreme Court's decision recognizing EPA's obligation to address climate change under the Clean Air Act." Jackson also stated that EPA "will stand ready to help Congress craft strong, science-based climate legislation that fulfills the vision of the President." ...In the Supreme Court case, Heinzerling was the lead author of arguments from a coalition of environmentalists and states claiming EPA had a legal obligation to address greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. The court agreed, and EPA has been struggling for the past several years on how to fulfill that obligation. Heinzerling's presence at EPA could help the agency craft climate change policies and potential regulations that conform with the high court ruling and can withstand future legal challenges.
Jackson's memo on priorities, linked to above, is also worth a read. The grown-ups are indeed back in charge.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Yay Lisa! One of the best profs I had during 1L at Georgetown - she's sensible and does not kowtow to the "free market uber alles" mentality of some regulators.
January 26, 2009 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I had her for torts...she's terrific.
January 26, 2009 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
First I heard of her. But the brief resume provided, and her appointment (is it a coincidence that Lisa will be reporting to Lisa?), is heartening. The adults will implement a strong policy with enforcement.
As for the "struggling" under Bush: it's at minimum extremely difficult to formulate a science-based policy when one rejects the science.
January 26, 2009 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is great. I am thrilled that science and responsible human beings are taking control of the future of the Earth. I was frightened and discouraged during the reign of Bush and his alliance of profiteers and rapists. Republican ideology cares so much more about corporate wealth than human health, left to them we would still be accelerating on the road to hell. With this woman in power I think I believe again that we have a chance to get this right. How on Earth can we aim for less than sustainability? Survivability? Are we suicidal as a species? .... or just too many of us too selfish or too stupid?
January 26, 2009 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a breath of fresh air all this is. It's like we suddenly have a real country, after eight years of utter insanity.
January 27, 2009 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
a correction to Ms. Schor's wording -- on the subject of EPA having a legal obligation to address greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, the article should say:
"EPA has been struggling for the past several years on how not to fulfill that obligation."
January 27, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink