In a move aimed at safeguarding environmental regulations, Alderman Peter Burgelis has made a pointed appeal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), beseeching them to steadfastly maintain their authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This plea comes at a time when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering a foundational legal decision that empowers it to combat these emissions, as reported by the City of Milwaukee.
Instigating the process earlier this year, the EPA has openly begun to question the Endangerment Finding—a key legal determination made in 2009 deeming greenhouse gas emissions a threat to public health and welfare. This finding, critical to the agency's ability to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act, has sustained legal scrutiny and was upheld in courts. Despite this, the EPA has introduced the possibility to rescind the finding, prompting a comment period where Burgelis's letter will critically be added to the public record, according to the City of Milwaukee.
Asserting the significance of the Endangerment Finding, Burgelis's letter stated, "We support EPA’s mission to protect human health and environment. Developing and enforcing regulations is a necessary policy tool to achieve your mission." He further emphasized the need to hold, "the worst polluters accountable for better performance," as stated by the City of Milwaukee.
Under the auspices of the Clean Air Act, the EPA is responsible for tackling the most urgent air quality issues, which include managing the environment's threats posed by greenhouse gas emissions. In his letter, Burgelis underscores an expectation for the current administration to not only uphold the Endangerment Finding but to also publicly reassert the risks of climate change and their commitment towards protecting communities from polluters, as per the City of Milwaukee.
