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Feedback ForumShould individual states be allowed to set their own emissions standards?Submissions for this question are no longer being accepted. Previously submitted comments appear below. Comments may have been edited for content or space. Poster: Thomas T Panto Comment: Ideas are needed. Every state should do what they can do. States can look and learn from the many ideas and attempts made. From those state efforts a federal standard can be derived that is supported by the experiences of the states using them. If we treat the world like a football game, teams pitted against each other, then , like foot ball games, no one ''wins'' except the promoters of the game, Poster: splashy Comment: Yes, they should be able to especially if their standards are better than the Feds standards are. As I see it, ANYTHING that makes things better is a good thing. Since the EPA is run by Republic hacks these days, they won't do ANYTHING constructive. Poster: Gerri Michalska Comment: How ironic: the Republicans revile big government as a problem not a solver. With G. Bush Jr. that has become so very true and to such an extent that the states have had to fulfill the moral mandate as the White House has abnegated truly caring for the people. Poster: Gerri Comment: Ahh. so many enlightened people opining on this issue. From what I can see Bush and the Republicans have messed up so egregiously so many things that: 1. We are counting the days and 2. It is left to the states to be proactive and do the right thing. Poster: Andrea Gina Comment: As a former water resources leader and regulator in California, it was crucial that local and state agencies could lead air, water and solid waste management when federal regulations are considered a MINIMUM. EPA has been shackled by the Bush Administration which means that the MINIMUM standards have been lowered. All the more reason, in the face of global warning, that local voices can pass laws that are stronger to protect the health and welfare of the people. Poster: Janet Comment: California is a perfect example of the good that can come from being in control of its own air quality. Our air, though not perfect, has been cleaned up substantially since we passed our own higher air quality standards. If the state standards are higher than the federal standards that is good for all of us. Poster: Green Lantern Comment: Given the level of federal regulation these days. it would only be responsible to impose national regularions as to air quality and auto emissions. After shouldn't the air be as clean in California as it is in Wisconsin? Poster: jack bradin Comment: Yes as the USA's head slowly comes free of the sand, villages will lead the way!!!!!!!!!! Greed and exceptualism need to be delt with at home before the infected step out the door. If i never see another SUV, McMansion, or golf course it will be a great day.... Poster: Betsy Comment: There should be national standards that meet or are above what is recommended. If individual states wish to exceed these standards, fine. But there must be a nation-wide-- even global-wide--change to make it mandatory for tough emissions standards to be put into law. Poster: Blues Outback Comment: Re: Should states set their own emission standards?... Does the air stop at a state's border? We hear about Atrazine drifting several hundred miles - to affect the amphibians in distant states... As a refinement of a good national standard, perhaps. Its always a great benchmark to see that California has more stringent auto emission standards than the rest of the country. California has a lot of quality of life to protect & it shows that it CAN be done & that the standard in some states are meager & barely standards at all. Poster: Prem Bhandari Comment: Yes, they should be allowed provided Emission levels set by individual states are higher than nationally agreed upon Minimum Levels of Emission Reduction. Poster: Julian Kaufman Comment: Since the government is run by big business interests the only way is for individual states to set their own standards. It could then force Congress to act to standardize standards for all the states. Poster: Meera Comment: I think we all should have very strict emmission standards. Uniform and much more than called for. Time is running out for our planet, and the technology is there to do all this. Why put it off with stories of difficulty. What is more difficult...I'd say no air for our planet. Carbon dioxide is at a dangerous level and each day Millions of trees are cut down just for paper shopping bags. Lets all wake up and get busy. All of us. Poster: Joan Manning Comment: Emission standards need to be national - even global. As we know from Chernobyl, contaminents in the air are carried great distances and will affect the air many miles from the source. Poster: Richard Magee Comment: States should certainly be permitted to set their own standards, if the standards they set exceed those of the federal government. Poster: Patricia Hughes Comment: No, we need a realistic national standard otherwise a state with a low emmission standard could be down wind from a state with a high emmission standard. Poster: Nadine R. Dilworth Comment: I live in Idaho. It is still a beautiful state and relatively pristine. If the conservative republican government in power now were to make its own emission standards, the air quality in Idaho would soon plummet. Poster: Brita Skarbrevik Comment: Yes. Congress is, sadly, influenced by K Street and their lobbyists. At a state level these decisions can be made more efficiently. Perfect example is California with tougher emission standards that are leading the way for national standards. Poster: michael molesky Comment: Each state has differant climates and needs and should be able to set their emission standards. Poster: Benjy Comment: No, I would not like to see individual states set their own emissions standards UNLESS a minimum level were required. Otherwise, some states might permit high emissions while neighboring states wanted lower standards. In large western states that would be less of a problem, but in the east with small states close together the polution of one state could easily affect its neighbors. Poster: Kay Lindgren Comment: Emission standards should be national standards because the air does not stop at state lines but moves throught the world. Poster: Marti Roush Comment: If a state has emission standards that are more stringent than the federal standards, they should be allowed to stand. The cleaner our air can be made, the more rapidly and effectively we will be addressing global warming. Poster: karl koenig Comment: Yes they should. Poster: Remy Comment: Like Arnold says, if the EPA can't do its job, then it should get out of the way. This is the reverse of civil rights action of the 60's. In environmental rights, the states must be allowed to take the lead |
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