Final answer:
The negative effect of the EPA's decision to monitor six greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act on businesses is the economic burden due to compliance costs, which is estimated to be over $200 billion annually for U.S. firms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The negative effect of the EPA's decision to monitor six greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act that the student is asking about is likely D) Economic burdens on businesses. While the EPA's regulation of criteria pollutants, including carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and particulate matter, aims to protect public health and the environment, these regulations also impose financial costs on businesses.
Government economists have estimated that U.S. firms may pay over $200 billion per year to comply with federal environmental laws. This financial cost represents additional expenses that businesses must bear to meet the required air quality standards, which can include installing pollution-control equipment or changing operating procedures.
It is important to consider that not every environmental regulation necessarily results in a net benefit. For instance, the costs of reducing certain air pollutants may be comparable to, or greater than, the benefits. Therefore, when evaluating environmental regulations, it's critical to weigh both the benefits and costs linked to clean air and clean water initiatives.