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The week closed with a major pronouncement from the Environmental Protection Agency. Carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases are classified under the Clean Air Act as polluters because they endanger the public health. ABC's David Kerley explained the agency's convoluted reasoning thus: "contributing to climate change; leading to more heatwaves, droughts and flooding; threatening our food and water supplies." The EPA already had a green light from the Supreme Court to issue such a ruling, noted NBC's Anne Thompson, but "for two years the Bush Administration refused to do anything." She found the ruling written in "blunt, forceful language." Theoretically, the designation enables EPA reduce fossil fuel emissions from vehicles, smokestacks and power plants. In practice, CBS' Bob Orr told us, those regulations "could take years and face likely court challenges." Instead the Obama Administration would like to hold off "and allow Democrats on Capitol Hill a chance to ram through tough new laws curbing emissions. Republicans are calling that an energy tax and are pledging a fight."
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