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Environmentalism and the Supreme Court

Legal Planet

The case involved the lynchpin of the Clean Air Act, EPA’s power to set national air quality standards. The Court then held that greenhouse gases are covered by the Clean Air Act as a type of air pollutant. Among other things, the Clean Air Act gives federal protection to wetlands.

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Supreme Court Sidelines Science, Threatens Public Health: These Rules-in-Progress Show What’s at Stake

Union of Concerned Scientists

If governments bypass or undermine science and public comments in policy making, our health could be in jeopardy from increased pollution, cases of foodborne illnesses, politically-driven medicine approvals or disapprovals, and more. The Supreme Court just overturned the doctrine known as “Chevron deference.”

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What’s Been Killing U.S. Coal?

Legal Planet

The passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act and its major 1990 Amendments don’t show up at all in a graph of coal use. Politically, what has happened to coal jobs may be more salient. And what sparked the ensuing plunge in coal use starting with Obama’s presidency?

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EPA’s Power Plant Carbon Rules Are Critical—and Complex. Here’s What to Know, and What to Watch.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Multiple lines of analysis make clear that regardless of how cheap wind and solar power get, without directly addressing pollution from coal and gas plants, the country’s clean energy transition will not happen fast enough. One critical tool for forcing that reckoning comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Why UCS Supporters Are Pressing EPA to Let California Enforce Its Truck Pollution Rules

Union of Concerned Scientists

California has a longstanding leadership role on transportation pollution, and the Clean Air Act grants the state the right to set strong vehicle emissions standards. While the waiver addresses California’s ability to enforce its rules, the Clean Air Act also allows other states the ability to adopt California’s policies.

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DEP Determines Rulemaking Petition Submitted By Environmental, Health Groups To Adopt More Protective Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells Is An Action The Environmental Quality Board Has Statutory Authority To Take

PA Environment Daily

“DEP’s job is to protect people and the environment from pollution, and increasing minimum setback distances from fracking sites should be an obvious next step to protect everyone in the Commonwealth regardless of one’s politics.” There is no evidence that shale gas development can be done without harm to human health,” said Alison L.

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The Impacts of Explicitly Racist Land Use Practices Persist in California Communities. Is It Time for State Intervention?

Legal Planet

As a corollary, local decision-makers are far less politically accountable to residents living outside of their jurisdiction, allowing these decision-makers to impose negative externalities on neighboring communities. Read the full report from Leadership Counsel and the Clinic here.