White House Gains Influence in Toxic Chemical Assessments
Apr 15, 2008 by Matthew Madia
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced changes to its process for assessing the human health effects of common chemical substances. The revised process will allow the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to play a larger role in the evaluation of the substances.
read in fullPressure Flushes CDC Report Out of Hiding
Mar 18, 2008 by Mollie Churchill
In response to allegations of suppression of science, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a draft report that the agency will continue to modify due to CDC concerns that the report too closely links environmental pollution with adverse health effects in the Great Lakes region.
read in fullEPA Blasted for Library Closings
Mar 18, 2008 by Mollie Churchill
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was blasted in both judicial and congressional forums for closing seven of its libraries over the past several years. In a Feb. 15 ruling, a federal arbitrator found EPA guilty of unfair labor practices with respect to the closings. One month later, Congress heard testimony from several sources, including the Government Accountability Office (GAO), that EPA's library restructuring plan was poorly conceived, planned, and implemented.
read in fullWhite House Interferes with Smog Rule
Mar 18, 2008 by Matthew Madia
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced March 12 its revision to the national air quality standard for ozone, or smog. While the new standard is an improvement, EPA did not go as far as its own scientists had recommended. Last-minute changes orchestrated by the White House have also mired the rule change in controversy. In addition to the new standard, EPA proposed legislative changes to the Clean Air Act, which environmentalists and lawmakers immediately criticized.
read in fullCDC Watering Down Great Lakes Report on Toxics
Feb 20, 2008 by Mollie Churchill
After significantly delaying the release of a report that identifies alarming toxic health risks for the Great Lakes region, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now reportedly planning to release a substantially modified document.
read in fullPolar Bears Get Their Day in Congress
Feb 5, 2008 by Sean Moulton
At a Jan. 17 hearing, the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming questioned the true motives behind the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) delay in deciding whether to list the polar bear as a threatened species.
read in full2008 Regulatory Policy Agenda: Congress Debates, States Act
Jan 23, 2008 by Rick Melberth*
In the current political climate, it is unlikely that Congress will succeed in passing legislation that protects the public from the range of regulatory failures we experienced in 2007. The barriers to substantially improving public health, worker safety, and environmental quality seem too high in this election year, especially given President Bush's willingness to use his veto power. What Congress can accomplish in 2008 is establishing legislative and oversight priorities over numerous health, safety, and environmental issues. In many instances, however, we will see states move ahead with a variety of actions designed to improve public protections. The executive branch will also play an increasingly important role as the Bush administration comes to a close.
read in fullA Year for Failure: Regulatory Policy News in 2007
Dec 18, 2007 by Sam Kim
In 2007, new regulatory policies and the inability of federal agencies to protect the public made headlines more so than at any time in recent memory. Four themes dominated regulatory policy this year: an increase in White House influence over agency rulemaking activity and discretion, which added a perception of more political manipulation; the inability of the federal government to protect the public by ensuring the safety of imported goods; the voice of some industry groups calling for regulation; and the Bush administration's refusal to regulate in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, as in the case of climate change. At best, government has attempted to respond to crises instead of getting ahead of the curve. This has left the public uncertain about whether we can count on our government to provide adequate safeguards.
read in fullPolitical Influence Leads to Revised Endangered Species Decisions
Dec 4, 2007 by Sam Kim
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will revise seven of eight decisions made under the Endangered Species Act program after reviewing them for improper political interference. The four-month review came as a result of a Department of Interior inspector general's investigation of allegations that former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Julie A. MacDonald, intimidated staff and changed the scientific information agency scientists developed for decisions about listing or delisting threatened or endangered species.
read in fullScientific Wrangling over Air Quality Standard for Lead
Dec 4, 2007 by Sam Kim
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to revise the national standard for airborne lead pollution, but differing scientific opinions among federal officials are further complicating a protracted rulemaking effort. The prevailing interpretation may have a significant impact on the agency's decision to tighten or weaken the standard.
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