A major climate change initiative by the Obama administration has been challenged. The White House, in an re-interpretation of the Clean Air Act, enacted stricter regulations for greenhouse gases, and stated it would begin permitting polluters.
Today the Supreme Court hears arguments in Texas v. EPA. Texas' permitting system for air polluters predates the EPA and the state believes it has done and can do a better job of the permitting.
Environmental advocates argue the state has done a lackluster job in the past and no indications exist to suggest a change.
We talk with both sides to get a sense of what the state is doing or not doing to improve air quality and to see just how likely it is that Texas comes out the winner.
Guests:
- Pamela Giblin, partner at the law firm Baker Botts L.L.P., helped conceive the state's permitting system in the 1970s.
- Elena Craft (@elenacraft), health scientist and toxicologist for the Environmental Defense Fund based in Austin.
Links:
*The Source airs at 3 p.m. on KSTX 89.1 FM -- audio from this show will be posted by 5:30 p.m.