The US Environmental Protection Agency has sent its scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare to the White House for final review, the next step in moving toward regulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Global warming denialist attempts to derail the process, which were countered here by leading climate scientists, were deservedly brushed aside. Now White House regulatory office head Cass Sunstein must not interfere with EPA’s finding.

Juliet Eilperin writes in the Washington Post Capitol Briefing blog November 9 (“EPA sends greenhouse gases finding to White House”):

EPA released a statement Monday saying it has submitted the endangerment finding “for interagency review. This is the next step in the regulatory process. Nothing has been finalized at this point, and the April 2009 proposed findings are still just that—proposed and being reviewed through the regulatory process.”

But Frank O’Donnell, who heads the advocacy group Clean Air Watch, said the submission suggests the administration is trying to finalize the proposal before its negotiators leave for the climate talks starting Dec. 7.

“They don’t want to go to Copenhagen empty-handed,” he said.

Stephen Power writes in the Wall Street Journal Environmental Capital blog, November 9 (“Climate Fight: EPA Sends Global Warming Finding to White House”):

Adoption of that endangerment finding is the legal precursor to regulating such gases under the Clean Air Act. The agency proposed its declaration in April, provoking a furious response from business groups – such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – who have questioned the agency’s scientific and legal basis.

Environmental groups, naturally, are thrilled with the EPA’s move, hoping it will boost the Obama administration’s efforts to forge a global agreement to curb emissions when representatives of more than 190 countries gather next month in Copenhagen, Denmark for a United Nations conference.

See our earlier posts:
October 8: CEI global warming denialists try another gambit seeking to derail EPA “endangerment” finding

October 13: Phil Jones and Ben Santer respond to CEI and Pat Michaels attack on temperature data record

October 14: Stephen Schneider comments on the CEI and Pat Michaels petition on the global warming data record

October 14: Scientists return fire at CEI and Pat Michaels for bogus charges on global temperature data record

March 24: White House OMB should not be allowed to undermine EPA Clean Air Act regulation of greenhouse gases

May 18: Some reassurance on White House regulatory czar-nominee Cass Sunstein