Blog: The Fine Print / Citizen Health & Safety

Is FDA Ready for Nanotechnology?

Oct 10, 2006 by Guest Blogger

While nanotechnology could provide some exciting innovations, its impact on people is still largely unknown. As we pointed out last year, some scientists believe nanotechnology could pose risks similar to ultrafine particles released through combustion and welding, which are known to cause a range of health problems that include respiratory and cardiac ailments. But while scientists are still investigating the health effects of nanoparticles, industry is already rushing to get new nanotech products on the market.

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Scientists Resign in Protest of Advisory Panel

Oct 10, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Three scientists resigned from an EPA advisory committee panel reviewing the management of chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

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Possible Recess Appointment for Mine Safety Head

Oct 5, 2006 by Guest Blogger

The Senate has now failed to act on the nomination of industry-man Richard Stickler to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) twice. As we reported in February, Stickler is an industry man with a poor track record when it comes to health and safety. According to the United Mine Workers, mines run by Stickler had accident rates double that of the national average for six of eight years, including two fatal accidents at a mine Stickler managed for five years.

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Latest Watcher: What Spinach Tells Us About Food Safety

Sep 27, 2006 by Guest Blogger

In the latest issue of the Watcher, we take a look at the lessons learned from the recent E.Coli outbreak. FDA has confirmed 183 cases as of yesterday with 29 cases of kidney failure.

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Judge Reinstates Roadless Rules

Sep 25, 2006 by Guest Blogger

A California judge overturned a 2005 regulation that would have allowed state governors to petition the Forest Service to develop land protected under the Clinton-era roadless rule. The Clinton rule sought to protect 60 million acres of national forests from development. But the Bush administration has repeatedly attempted to undermine the regulations.

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A Hybrid Car, An Environmentalist Does Not Make

Sep 19, 2006 by Guest Blogger

In her latest column, Cindy Skrzycki of The Washington Post summarizes the opposing view points of OMB Watch and the Mercatus Center over the nomination of former Mercatus Regulatory Program Director Susan Dudley to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: OMB Watch and Public Citizen . . . released a 68-page report last week using Dudley's writings to attack her. It chastised her for ties to corporate donors and for what it called "Dudleynomics," an emphasis on free-market solutions to health and safety issues at the public's expense.

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Looking Beyond Sunsets

Sep 15, 2006 by Guest Blogger

With appropriators blocking sunset commission legislation in House, there's a good chance we won't see the legislation again this year. The legislative battle, however, does leave us with some interesting questions about how to make government more responsive to public need. Eliminating federal programs with limited congressional debate is obviously not the answer, but what is? New York University professor Paul C. Light offers one possible solution in an Op-Ed for the Christian Science Monitor.

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Latest Watcher

Sep 13, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Reg policy articles this time: Criticism of Draft Risk Assessment Bulletin May Delay Implementation Report Finds Dudley Unfit to Serve

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The Cost is Too High

Sep 13, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Read OMB Watch and Public Citizen's new report on the White House's radical nominee for OIRA, Susan Dudley.

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White House Strips Whistleblower Protections from Clean Air Act

Sep 11, 2006 by Guest Blogger

According to documents obtained by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the Bush administration has waived whistleblower protections under the Clean Air Act and the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Acting Assistant Attorney General Steve Bradbury wrote a memo in 2005 detailing why whistleblower protections do not apply under the acts. According to PEER, The opinion and the ruling reverse nearly two decades of precedent. Approximately 170,000 federal employees working within environmental agencies are affected by the loss of whistleblower rights.

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