Oregon Department of Justice

A Coalition Of States Urged New EPA Administrator To Reverse Bush Administration And Declare That Greenhouse Gases Contribute To Air Pollution And Endanger Public Health

Attorney General John Kroger praised the Environmental Protection Agency's decision today to declare that carbon emissions posed a threat to public health.

"This is a great victory for the rule of law and for science," said Attorney General Kroger.

Oregon and a coalition of states that cooperated as parties in the litigation against the Bush Administration EPA sent a letter in February urging new EPA Director Lisa P. Jackson to change directions and embrace the scientific findings that greenhouse gases harm the environment and public health.

The proposed EPA finding, which triggers a public comment period, identified six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat. Administrator Jackson said climate change has disproportionate impact on the health of certain segments of the population, including the poor, the elderly and the very young.

Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department's mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.