So, the White House politico who was discovered to have doctored a climate change report -- even though he has no scientific training -- and then left (coincidentally, ahem) his job when the news broke has just days later taken a job at ExxonMobil. No wonder he went to ExxonMobil in particular: as the Wall Street Journal points out, "Openly and unapologetically, the world's No. 1 oil company disputes the notion that fossil fuels are the main cause of global warming. Along with the Bush administration, Exxon opposes the Kyoto accord and the very idea of capping global-warming emissions....

OIRA met with several industry representatives, the Environmental Protection Agency Water Division and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies regarding the EPA Mercury Draft Guidance on June 6. Published in the federal register on March 15, the Clean Air Mercury rule is meant to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. However, under EPA's cap-and-trade program, the rule will create higher levels of mercury emissions in some areas.

OMB met with a roof crush consultant and Pauben, an auto-safety engineering group, on April 28, regarding NHTSA's roof crush rule. NHTSA is planning to revise its standard for roof crush resistance in the next year.

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and the Mine Safety and Health Administration href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/oira/1219/meetings/434.html">have met with representatives from the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association over an MSHA proposed rule governing asbestos. According to MSHA's href="http://frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=758892 5993+1+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve">Regulatory Plan, released in December, the agency is planning on reducing the permissible exposure level for asbestos in an upcoming rulemaking.