Another hard-hitting investigative report from the L.A. Times today, this time focusing on special favors from the White House to Halliburton (Dick Cheney's former company). No, not that special favor. No, not that special favor. This is actually yet another one. The newly revealed special favor is that Halliburton developed a drilling technique, called "hydraulic fracturing," that's getting a big boost from the White House. EPA -- you remember them, they're supposed to safeguard the environment -- raised concerns about hydraulic fracturing, but the White House ignored and suppressed those concerns when drafting the 2001 national energy policy report, which -- surprise, surprise -- touted the value of Halliburton's drilling technique. An EPA whistleblower is now coming forward to reveal that the administration played fast and loose with the science (yet again) in an EPA study claiming that hydraulic fracturing poses no known threat to drinking water. The EPA staffer insists that the administration dirtied up the science and is putting the public health at risk with this unsound endorsement of Halliburton's practice. Get the details in Tom Hamburger and Alan C. Miller, "Halliburton's Interests Assisted by White House: The administration has lent support to a lucrative drilling technique. Some in the EPA consider it an environmental concern," L.A. Times, Oct. 14, 2004.