Safeguarding Public Health and the Environment

Feb 8, 2016

Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

As Americans were gathering party supplies to greet the New Year, the Internal Revenue Service released their annual report of cumulative tax data reported on the 400 tax r...

read in full

Feb 4, 2016

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

Chlorine bleach plants across the U.S. put millions of Americans in danger of a chlorine gas release, a substance so toxic it has been used as a chemical weapon. Greenpeace’s new repo...

read in full

Jan 25, 2016

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2014 is now available. The good news: total toxic releases by reporting facilities decreased by nearly six percent from 2013 levels. Howe...

read in full

Jan 22, 2016

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016): Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule to reduce methane emissions...

read in full

more news

EPA Announces Proposed Smog Standard

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced proposed changes to the national standard for ground-level ozone, also known as smog. Scientific consensus supports a limit substantially lower than the current standard. EPA's proposal has drawn criticism for being too weak to fully protect the public from the adverse health effects of ozone. A lack of transparency in the rulemaking process has left the public in the dark as to whether EPA, the White House or industry lobbyists may be to blame.

read in full

More Delay on State Efforts to Regulate GHG Emissions

Jun 22, 2007 by Matthew Madia

In December 2005, California petitioned EPA to let the state develop its own program and standards for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Under the Clean Air Act, the federal government holds the express right to regulate emissions but may grant waivers to states, which it often does. If EPA grants California's waiver request, 11 other states could follow suit. Yesterday, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson wrote California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stating EPA would make its decision by the end of 2007. That's two full years after the initial request.

read in full

EPA's Weak Ozone Proposal: A Case for Regulatory Transparency

Jun 21, 2007 by Matthew Madia

On June 21, EPA announced a proposal for a revised national standard for ozone exposure. The proposal, mandated by court order, proposes a range from which EPA will pick its final standard. Any limit picked from within the proposed range will fall short of what is needed to protect the public health. EPA's proposed range is 0.070 to 0.075 parts per million, but in recent months scientific consensus has emerged in supporting a limit no greater than 0.070 ppm and ideally closer to 0.060 ppm. EPA has already caught a lot of flack for skirting a real decision and proposing limits weaker than scientists have recommended. But the role of the White House should be scrutinized as well.

read in full

Industry Gives Advanced Word on Ozone Standard

Jun 20, 2007 by Matthew Madia

EPA is under court order to publish by today a proposed rule on its periodic review of the national air quality standard for ozone. The rule just went through a White House regulatory review process characterized by closed-door meetings which let in industry reps. Public health experts were heard from in a last-minute meeting held Monday.

read in full

Democrats Make Nice on Energy Legislation

Jun 19, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Recently, Reg•Watch has been critical of Congressional Democrats' disorganization on passing comprehensive energy legislation.

read in full

White House Listens as Industry Calls for Weak Ozone Standard

Jun 15, 2007 by Matthew Madia

OMB Watch and Clean Air Watch have been carefully watching as the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviews EPA's rule to revise the national standard for ozone, a.k.a. smog. OIRA already entertained industry reps on two occasions (read more on that here). The press is starting to pay attention to this issue. Articles in Greenwire (subscription) and The Hill discuss the importance of a tighter standard and the scientific basis behind it. The articles also chronicle industry's efforts to block EPA from developing a more protective standard.

read in full

Latest Watcher

Jun 13, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time: Democratic Disarray on Greenhouse Gases May Let Bush off the Hook White House Meets with Industry on Smog Standard Long-delayed EPA Risk Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors Exhibits Flaws

read in full

White House Meets with Industry on Smog Standard

The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is reviewing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) revision to the national ozone standard. A number of scientists have urged EPA to adopt a more stringent standard for ozone, also known as smog. Unusually, Vice President Dick Cheney's office has involved itself in the review of the standard. OIRA has also been consulting with industry representatives as it prepares to make edits to the standard and make recommendations to EPA.

read in full

Democratic Disarray on Greenhouse Gases May Let Bush off the Hook

Two House Democrats are circulating a draft of legislation that, if passed, would effectively implement the position the Bush administration held regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions prior to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The legislation threatens to create enough disarray among Democrats that the hope for progress on GHGs generated by the court decision and the 2006 elections could be dashed.

read in full

Democrats Failing on CO2 Regulation: Part 2

Jun 8, 2007 by Matthew Madia

This morning, Reg•Watch blogged about a proposal from leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which would prevent vehicle greenhouse gas emissions regulation. A BNA news service (subscription) article today proves Democrats are in disarray on what to do about greenhouse gas regulation. Some Committee Democrats are trying to derail the aforementioned proposal. The proposal also runs counter to the agenda of House Speaker Pelosi and will likely result in infighting by Democrats on the House floor.

read in full