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The EPA has drafted rules for vehicle fuel efficiency that sets a minimum standard of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. The agency is taking this step as part of its effort to begin regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, EPA head Lisa Jackson just announced that she plans to formally declare a so-called “endangerment finding” for carbon dioxide which would designate it as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. The declaration came after a 60 day public comment period which netted approximately 300,000 responses. The move is seen as a push for the passage of climate change legislation, particularly in the Senate where some lawmakers have postponed a vote until later this month. The House narrowly passed a climate change bill in June. The EPA could theoretically regulate carbon dioxide under existing federal regulations, regardless of what’s contained in the climate bill. Under the Bush administration, the EPA resisted efforts to regulate C02 and other greenhouse gases as pollutants.

GUEST: Nick Berning, Director of Public Advocacy, Friends of the Earth

For more information, visit www.foe.org.