Canadian cities petition EPA to reduce US air pollution from power plants News
Canadian cities petition EPA to reduce US air pollution from power plants

[JURIST] The Sierra Legal Defence Fund [advocacy website] petitioned the US Environmental Protection Agency [official website] Wednesday on behalf of thirteen Canadian cities – including Toronto, Windsor and Halifax – to mandate the reduction of air pollution from 150 coal-fired power plants in the US. The petition [PDF text; press release] asks the EPA to direct a reduction of carbon dioxide and other gas emissions in seven US states as "these air contaminants are causing or contributing to air pollution…acid rain, and climate change…[and] endanger public health or welfare in Canada." Sierra alleges that the 150 US plants in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky release roughly the same amount of greenhouse gases as the whole of Canada and virtually double the amount of Canadian domestic pollution as their byproducts blow north and east.

Under Section 115(a) of the Clean Air Act [text], whenever the EPA Administrator:

has reason to believe that any air pollutant or pollutants emitted in the United States cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare in a foreign country…the Administrator shall give formal notification thereof to the Governor of the State in which such emissions originate.

If the EPA fails to act on Sierra's request, the parties maintain the right to bring suit in US courts against the EPA. Earlier this year, the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals held that the EPA cannot exempt [JURIST report] US coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other industrial facilities from a requirement to install new pollution controls to keep up with emissions changes. CBC News has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.