NCBA is officially asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its finding that greenhouse gas emissions from human sources are an endangerment to public health and welfare. The petition, filed last week, is based on information uncovered during the “climategate” scandal. Much of the data discovered through a series of secret e-mails calls into question the scientific validity behind EPA’s finding.
Because climategate wasn’t exposed until after the public comment period on the endangerment rule was proposed, NCBA and the Coalition for Responsible Regulation are asking EPA to postpone any related regulatory actions or rules until the review is completed.
“EPA owes it to the American people to be sure a rule of this magnitude is based on accurate information, not fudged or fabricated temperature data,” said NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Tamara Thies.
The agency’s claim that man-made greenhouse gases are a danger to human health would allow EPA to initiate regulation. According to NCBA, such regulatory action would have severe consequences for the entire U.S. economy, including farmers and ranchers, by dramatically increasing input costs.