GOP Climate Concerns Snag Air Nominee

"A Republican senator blasted President Obama's nominee to lead U.S. EPA's air office yesterday for failing to outline a clear path for protecting small businesses from climate regulations under the Clean Air Act.

Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming has placed a 'hold' on the nomination of Gina McCarthy to lead EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, saying the agency's proposed finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare would lead to costly regulations of small sources.

EPA lawyers and environmental groups insist that any new rules would be flexible enough to avoid regulating emissions from small sources like hospitals and commercial buildings. But Barrasso and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce say environmental groups will likely sue EPA, pushing the agency to regulate the smallest sources of greenhouse gas emissions."

Robin Bravender reports for Greenwire in the New York Times May 8, 2009.