Carbon dioxide is ruled a NAAQS pollutant by District of Columbia Court of Appeals

In a June 26, 2012 decision, the federal appeals Court in Washington DC ruled :

Opinion for the Court filed PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM:

Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007)—which clarified that greenhouse gases are an “air pollutant” subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act (CAA)—the Environmental Protection

Agency promulgated a series of greenhouse gas-related rules.

First, EPA issued an Endangerment Finding, in which it

determined that greenhouse gases may “reasonably be

anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” See 42 U.S.C. § 7521(a)(1).

Next, it issued the Tailpipe Rule, which set emission standards for cars and light trucks.

Finally, EPA determined that the CAA requires major stationary sources of greenhouse gases to obtain construction and operating permits.

But because immediate regulation of all such sources would

result in overwhelming permitting burdens on permitting authorities and sources, EPA issued the Timing and Tailoring

Rules, in which it determined that only the largest stationary

sources would initially be subject to permitting requirements.

Petitioners, various states and industry groups, challenge all

these rules, arguing that they are based on improper

constructions of the CAA and are otherwise arbitrary and

capricious.

But for the reasons set forth below, we conclude:

1)    the Endangerment Finding and Tailpipe Rule are neither

arbitrary nor capricious;

2. 2)EPA’s interpretation of the governing CAA provisions is unambiguously correct; and
   

3. 3)no petitioner has standing to challenge the Timing and Tailoring Rules.
   

We thus dismiss for lack of jurisdiction all petitions for review of the Timing and Tailoring Rules, and deny the remainder of the petitions.

Heinz J. Mueller, Chief

NEPA Program Office

Office of Policy and Management

Climate Change Adaptation

The SFEIS states, "[regarding the design of stormwater runoff and drainage capacity, both states have developed design policies based on historical climatological data that will be adhered to when developing the final plans. Base design storm evaluations are checked on 100- year storms. "

Our climate is changing. Historical climate data will not be sufficient in predicting future storm events. 100-year storms are occurring with increasing frequency. The number of storm events occurring with greater intensity is also increasing. Designs based on historical 100-year storms may not be sufficient in the future. EPA suggests this may be particularly applicable for designing adequate handling of stormwater runoff and drainage of the proposed roadway and tunnel in order to protect the health and safety of the public who use the tunnel and roadway, or live/work near it during an intense storm event.

Recommendations: EPA recommends that INDOT and KYTC account for increased storm frequency and intensity in the design of this project in order to help insure the health and safety of the public. The ROD should commit to accounting for increased storm frequency and intensity in the design of this project.

Revised Rule of Decision Response to Comments:

USEPA-6

Climate Change Adaptations—Designs based on historical 100-year storms may not be sufficient in the future. EPA suggests this may be particularly applicable for designing adequate handling of stormwater runoff and drainage of the proposed roadway and tunnel in order to protect the health and safety of the public who use the tunnel and roadway, or live/work near it during an intense storm event. EPA recommends that INDOT and KYTC account for increased storm frequency and intensity in the design of this project in order to help insure the health and safety of the public. The ROD should commit to accounting for increased storm frequency and intensity in the design of this project.

Response by FHWA

All hydraulic design is performed in accordance with FHWA guidance and local state practices and historical data. While it is recognized that some recent events have been at higher rainfall intensities than have been on average in past years, this has also been compensated by periods of drought.

To compensate for the extremes, all major structures are designed to accommodate a 100 year storm, but are checked for a 500 year design. The storm water system that conveys water through the tunnel was also designed for a 100-year storm. The tunnel, itself, is designed with a minimum 18-inch freeboard above the 500-year flood to prevent water from entering the tunnel directly.

• Transport-sector CO2 emissions represent 23% (globally) and 30% (OECD) of overall CO2 emissions from Fossil fuel combustion. The sector accounts for approximately 15% of overall greenhouse gas emissions.

• Global CO2 emissions from transport have grown by 45% from 1990 to 2007, led by emissions from the road sector in terms of volume and by shipping and aviation in terms of highest growth rates.

• Under “business-as-usual”, including many planned efficiency improvements, global CO2 emissions from transport are expected to continue to grow by approximately 40% from 2007 to 2030 – though this is lower than pre-crisis estimates.

• Road sector emissions dominate transport emissions with light-duty vehicles accounting for the bulk of emissions globally. In certain ITF member countries for which estimates can be made, road freight accounts for up to 30% to 40% of road sector CO2 emissions though the breakdown amongst freight vehicle classes varies

amongst countries. Emissions from global aviation and international shipping account for 2.5% and 3% of total CO2 emissions in 2007.

• Some countries (e.g. France, Germany and Japan) stand out in that they have seen their road CO2 emissions stabilise or decrease even before the recession of 2008-2009 despite economic and road freight growth over the same period.

• The economic crisis of 2008 has led to a prolonged downturn in economic activity and has led to the sharpest drop in emissions in the past 40 years (estimates range from 3% to 10%). Depending on the strength of the economic recovery, may translate into approximately 5% to 8% decrease in 2020 emissions from their precrisis projected levels.

1. •The outcome of Copenhagen Climate Summit has not provided a strong signal supporting future emission reduction efforts for either developed or rapidly developing countries. Early analysis of both low and high ambition pledges by countries following Copenhagen finds that mitigation action is unlikely to constrain global average temperatures to less than a 2 degree celcius rise which is the threshold for dangerous climate change identified by the IPCC.
   

REDUCING TRANSPORT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS:

Trends & Data 2010 

This document provides a brief update of GHG emission trends from the transport sector and

discusses the outcome of the United Nations Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on

Climate Change held in December 2009 in Copenhagen. It is based on material collected for the OECDITF

Joint Transport Research Committee’s Working Group report on GHG emission reduction strategies

which will be released in 2010.     HERE

Partnership for a Green City Climate Action Report  April 22, 2009

available for download on the Metro Government webpage

The impacts of transportation policy on human health go far beyond highly visible auto accidents to include access to health care, food services and community support services. In the absence of an adequate public transportation system, the result could be intense isolation and a widening of disparities

between car and non-car households that is likely to most seriously affect the poorest of the poor  Civil rights and equity issues affecting minorities have been found to be linked to transportation policy decisions that give funding preference to projects (such as light rail and highways) that serve suburban

and/or wealthier commuters and consistently under-fund the infrastructure that is most valuable to poor and minority populations. Notably, "[i]n 1998, those in the lowest income quintile, making $11,943 or less, spent 36% of their household budget on transportation, compared with those in the highest income quintile, making $60,535 or more, who spent only 14%.”

4.3.1.1 Integrate Land Use and Transportation Planning

The promotion of compact and transit-oriented development patterns is potentially one of the most effective strategies to reduce GHG emissions from transportation in the long-term, but it also requires a great degree of collaboration among agencies and among plans. Transportation planning that considers

cross-linkages with land use plans and involves agencies with jurisdiction over those plans will ensure that transportation investment decisions support a regional vision for growth. The Louisville region needs a well thought out and coordinated transportation plan. Horizon 2030, our region’s long range

transportation plan, is simply a listing of projects sponsored by individual agencies of the local and the state governments. The Cornerstone 2020 Comprehensive Plan’s chapter titled “Mobility Strategy” addresses many of the factors identified below, but lacks the specific roles/responsibilities, priorities,

implementation activities and schedule that a strategy requires.

Recommendation 123:

LMG and KIPDA should develop a mobility strategy for Louisville. The new strategy will form the foundation of an integrated multi-modal transportation plan focused on mobility for people and freight.

4.3.1.2 Transit-Oriented Development

Well-planned communities that offer a variety of transportation options and attractive urban neighborhoods are better positioned to sustain long-term investment prospects. Cities like Austin, Denver, Madison and Chicago have programs underway that integrate economic development, transportation and land use strategies. This new type of program is an integral part of planning for a vital city. Studies in historical (traditional) non-integrated development have pointed out the sprawl that

occurs without this type of planning. In addition, “[b]y fostering or requiring low density development with a high separation of uses, Euclidean zoning is one of the great generators of suburban sprawl, with all of its environmental, economic, and social costs.” 

Most development in Louisville is occurring at densities and locations that do not support multi-modal activity or mass transit. This needs to be addressed by promoting high density/mixed-use development along transit service routes to encourage reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through transit oriented development (TOD).

Recommendation 124:

LMG, KIPDA, developers and the public should promote and invest in transit-oriented development as a way of planning for more livable, sustainable communities through the

integration of transit and development at the regional, community, corridor and neighborhood levels.

4.3 Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In 2006, Louisville Metro GHG emissions from transportation accounted for 29.2% of inventoried GHG emissions. Sources in this sector, which includes onroad and nonroad (e.g., construction equipment, lawn care, agricultural, rail) vehicles in Jefferson County, released 5.6 million tons of CO2e emissions.

Since the transportation sector accounted for such a large portion of the local GHG emissions, it warrants investigation as to how to reduce these emissions. A significant portion of these transportation related emissions results from to single occupancy vehicles.

Nationally, according to EPA inventory data for 2003, the transportation sector is the source of 29% of U.S. GHG emissions. This sector is the fastest-growing source of U.S. GHGs, accounting for 47% of the net increase in total U.S. emissions since 1990. Transportation is also the largest end-use source of CO2, which is the most prevalent greenhouse gas.24 Production of CO2 is related to the amount of fuel

combusted and its carbon content. The emission rate of CO2 cannot be affected by vehicle emissions control technologies. Methane and nitrous oxide (N2O), also significant GHGs, can be affected; however, they only account for a small percent of the transportation sector’s GHG total (2% nationally in 2003).

Much of the development that has occurred in the greater Louisville region over the last 50 years has been predicated on automobile ownership. As a result, the percentage of people who travel by car for work during 2007 was 96.3%.26Also, total trips by TARC in 2009 were estimated to be only 2.4% of all vehicle trips in the county.27 According to KIPDA, since 1980, the amount of driving done by Kentuckians rose at a rate 4.6 times the rate of population growth, though nationally the rate is three times faster than population.

The recommendations that follow attempt to address locally the goals expressed in the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, especially the primary goal of reducing GHG emissions 7% below 1990 levels by 2012. This Report presents analysis and strategies to help the Louisville Metro area meet thisGHG reduction goal as well as acting as a guide for improving Louisville Metro’s quality of place. The more livable a metro area is, the more population retention it experiences and the more prosperous it becomes by attracting and retaining vital industry and business interests. Many strategies intended to reduce transportation sector emissions depend more on policies and programs shaped at the national,

state and regional level than the local level; nevertheless, as the “Greater Louisville Project, 2005 Competitive City” has clearly stated: “NOW is the time to forge a broad community consensus to formulate a comprehensive mobility strategy.

 

“We begin with a brief primer on greenhouse gases. As their

name suggests, when released into the atmosphere, these gases act “like the ceiling of a greenhouse, trapping solar energy and retarding the escape of reflected heat.” Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. at 505. A wide variety of modern human activities result in greenhouse gas emissions; cars, power plants, and industrial sites all release significant amounts of these heat trapping gases. In recent decades “[a] well-documented rise in global temperatures has coincided with a significant increase in the concentration of [greenhouse gases] in the atmosphere.” Id. at 504-05. Many scientists believe that mankind’s greenhouse gas emissions are driving this climate change. These scientists predict that global climate change will cause a host of deleterious consequences, including drought, increasingly severe weather events, and rising sea levels.

The Supreme Court held in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gases “unambiguous[ly]” may be regulated as an “air pollutant” under the Clean Air Act (“CAA”). Id. at 529. Squarely rejecting the contention—then advanced by EPA—that “greenhouse gases cannot be ‘air pollutants’ within the meaning of the Act,” id. at 513, the Court held that the CAA’s definition of “air pollutant” “embraces all airborne compounds of whatever stripe.” Id. at 529 (emphasis added). Moreover, because the CAA requires EPA to establish motor-vehicle emission standards for “any air pollutant . . . which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare,” 42 U.S.C. § 7521(a)(1) (emphasis added), the Court held that EPA had a “statutory obligation” to regulate harmful greenhouse gases. Id. at 534.”

Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46, 6455−6469   June 2012 issue

Review of Methane Mitigation Technologies with Application to  Rapid Release of Methane from the Arctic

Joshuah K. Stolaroff,* Subarna Bhattacharyya, Clara A. Smith, William L. Bourcier, Philip J. Cameron-Smith, and Roger D. Aines

“If the beginnings of a rapid methane release are detected, it would very likely be desirable to stage a large-scale technological intervention to contain Arctic methane and

avoid triggering the feedback loop.”

“Over a 20-year time scale, which is relevant to the near-term threat of crossing a climate tipping point, methane is 72 times more potent [than CO2].”

“Our climate is changing. Historical climate data will not be sufficient in predicting future storm events. 100-year storms are occurring with increasing frequency. The number of storm events occurring with greater intensity is also increasing. Designs based on historical 100-year storms may not be sufficient in the future.”

EPA - Heinz J. Meuller NEPA Office  - Comments to the revised       Rule of Decision in the Louisville Bridges Project  See it HERE