Citizen Health & Safety

Amidst Increased Scrutiny, FDA Wants to Shut Testing Labs

Amidst increased scrutiny by the public and Congress of the problems with food imports and instances of bacterial outbreaks in the domestic food supply, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to close 7 of 13 laboratories that test for food safety.

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Bush's Regulatory Changes Set to Go into Effect

As of today, July 24, federal agencies are to be in full compliance with all the provisions of Executive Order 13422 (E.O. 13422), which amends the regulatory process for agencies, and the Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices. Both documents were issued Jan. 18 and work in concert to bring significant changes to the way agencies develop and enforce public protections.

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OMB Watch Analysis Raises Questions about Changes to Regulatory Process that Go into Effect Today

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007—On Jan. 18, 2007, President Bush issued Executive Order 13422, which amends Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review. The same day, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued its Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices. The two executive directives work in concert to alter the ways federal agencies develop and enforce regulations. As of today, agencies are to be in full compliance with the provisions of the executive order and the Final Bulletin.

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Senate Examines Chinese Imported Product Safety

Jul 18, 2007 by Matthew Madia

In 2007 alone, Chinese imports have been responsible for a nation-wide tire recall, a ban on five types of seafood containing potentially toxic additives, toys manufactured with lead-based paint, contaminated pet-food, and various other defective goods. In response to these concerns the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held an unofficial meeting today to shed light on why government agencies have been so slow to combat product safety violations.

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A Galling Example of White House Regulatory Delay

Jul 17, 2007 by Matthew Madia

The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is sitting on a rule which would set speed limits for large shipping vessels traveling along the eastern seaboard during the migration season of the North Atlantic right whale. The standard would reduce the number of whales killed in collisions with ships. Because the rule is considered "major," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) submitted the rule to OIRA for the standard review period prescribed by Executive Order 12866.

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Bill Would Force EPA to Decide on State Petitions

Jul 16, 2007 by Matthew Madia

In December 2005, California petitioned EPA to allow the state to develop its own vehicle emissions regulations. Since then, EPA has obstinately refused to decide either way. Only recently did Administrator Stephen Johnson set a timetable, promising action by the end of the year.

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Senator Presses EPA on White House Interference in Ozone Standard

Jul 11, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Today, a subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is holding a hearing on EPA's recent proposal to revise the national ozone standard. EPA has proposed tightening the standard, but not to the extent recommended by its own staff scientists and advisors.

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Federal Government Kept Nuclear Accident Secret

Details on an accidental release of highly-enriched uranium at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tennessee were kept secret from the public and Congress by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for thirteen months.

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EPA Holds off Industry Attack on Health, Safety and Environmental Data

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rejected the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Data Quality Act (DQA) challenge and appeal of supposed inconsistencies across several EPA databases. While agreeing to make a few changes, the agency refused the Chamber's demands that all variations between the EPA databases on chemicals be eliminated, stating that they were not errors but acceptable differences based on different scientific models.

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Don't Forget about a CPSC Commissioner

Jul 10, 2007 by Matthew Madia

This is a Reg•Watch friendly reminder to President Bush that he has not yet announced a suitable nominee to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC is an independent regulatory agency responsible for ensuring product safety by promulgating rules and negotiating or forcing recalls. In May, consumer advocates rightly heralded the withdrawal of the nomination of former industry lobbyist Michael Baroody. But a month-and-a-half later, Bush has not announced a new nominee.

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