Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says the Senate will vote on June 10 on a resolution that could prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, reports the New York Times.
Murkowski, the top Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, unveiled her initial amendment in September last year, as the EPA was preparing to announce that pollution from greenhouse gases endangers public health.
Murkowski told the newspaper she has reached a unanimous consent agreement with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to call for a floor vote on her resolution. The Senate will debate the measure for 10 hours with no possibility of filibusters or amendments.
Murkowski's resolution needs 51 votes and she already has 41 co-sponsors, including three Democrats: Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Ben Nelson of Nebraska, according to the New York Times.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has said if the EPA is prevented from regulating greenhouse gases it would significantly impact a deal struck last year between the auto industry, the administration and several states to limit greenhouse gases from cars and light trucks.
The EPA recently ruled it would not require pollution permits until January 2011 for the biggest polluters including power plants, industrial plants and other large stationary greenhouse gas sources.
