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Comment 23 for Provides the public and stakeholders opportunities to provide "informal" public comments as part of ARB's 2013 Scoping Plan Update Workshop Series (2013-sp-update-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Theodore
Last Name: Hadzi-Antich
Email Address: tha@pacificlegal.org
Affiliation: Pacific Legal Foundation
Subject: Legal Auhtority to Go Beyond Reachng 1990 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Levels BY 2020
Comment:
Ladies and Genetlemen, I offer these comments on behlaf of Pacific Legal Foundation. The California Air Resources Board ("CARB") does not have the legal authority to implement greenhouse gas emissions reductions beyond the levels specified in A.B. 32, which authorizes CARB to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in California to ensure that, by 2020, such emissions do not exceed 1990 levels in the state. AB 32 does not authorize CARB or any other state agency to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an additional 80% by 2050. Yet that is what the 2013 Scoping Plan Amendments portend. Any effort by CARB to go beyond emissions reductions required to be achieved by 2020 is ultra vires under A.B. 32, absent any other authorizing legislation. Furthermore, any legal authority that CARB may have had under Executive Order S-3-05 in connection with 2050 emissions goals has been superceded by A.B. 32, which does not authorize the achievement of such goals. When faced with the decision of whether or not to adopt the golas of Executive Order S-3-05, the California Legilature chose to adopt the 2020 goal only and rejected the 2050 goal by not specifically authorizing CARB to achieve it. See O'Grady v. Superior Court, 139 Cal. App. 4th 1423, 1443 (2006) (a statute "is presumed to exclude things not mentioned." SEe also, Pulaski v. Cal. Occupational Safety and Health Standards Bd., 75 Cal. App. 4th 1315, 1332 (1999) ("Administrative regulations that altar or amend [a] statute or enlarge its scope are void." If CARB moves forward to issue or promulgate Scoping Plan amendments that include the 2050 goals, it will be acting beyond its legislative authority, and Pacific Legal Foundation plans to bring legal action to challenge any such effort by CARB. Sincerely, Theodore Hadzi-Antich SEnior Staff Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2013-08-01 14:13:05
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