Citizen Health & Safety

Right-Wing Groups Challenge Link Between Carcinogens, Cancer

Two right-wing, industry-backed groups filed a data quality petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging the agency's labeling of certain chemicals as "likely human carcinogens." Specifically, the Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) and the American Council on Health and Science (ACHS) want EPA to eliminate statements in its Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment that indicate that a substance may properly be labeled as "likely to be carcinogenic to humans" based solely or primarily on the results of animal studies. Background

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Homeland Security Waives Law for Border Fence Construction

Apparently taking advantage of media focus on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is exercising its newly acquired power to waive apparently all law in order to expedite construction of border fencing near San Diego.

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Bush Decision to Waive Wage Protections Could Be Illegal

Sep 16, 2005 by Guest Blogger

As many surely know by now, the White House decision to suspend its obligations under the Davis-Bacon Act to require a fair minimum wage for contractors working on the reconstruction and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will have a direct and drastically negative impact on many of the very victims of the hurricane. Some have noted the irony of this decision given that the hurricane's devastation was compounded by years of poverty and low-wages throughout the Gulf region.

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OMB and the Price of Gas

Sep 14, 2005 by Guest Blogger

Astronomically high gas prices and possible post-Katrina price gouging are all over the news these days. So what does OMB have to do with the price of gas? Well, OMB has for some time been living in a fantasy land with regard to what we're paying at the pump. OMB puts out an annual report on the costs and benefits of regulations, and for the last several years the office has been using a low-ball estimate for the price per gallon of gas when calculating cost and benefit estimates. This year and last, OMB used an estimate of -- get this -- $1.10 to $1.30.

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Resolution to Reject Mercury Rule: Rejected

Sep 13, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The Senate voted 47-51 to reject the CRA resolution of disapproval of the mercury rule. Look for a mercury hot spot in a poor community near you.

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Know What's In the Toxic Goop?

Sep 13, 2005 by George Sorvalis

If you haven't seen it already, be sure to check out OMB Watch's page of environmental data on potential toxic sites in New Orleans, courtesy of OMB Watch's Information & Access department.

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Resolution to Reject Mercury Rule Proceeds

Sep 13, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The Senate voted 92-0 yesterday to allow a floor vote for ">S. J. Res. 20, a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act to reject EPA's mercury rule. A White House Statement of Administration Policy threatens a veto, but Congress Daily is reporting that the White House will probably not need to brandish its veto pen because the Senate is ultimately expected to defeat the CRA resolution when it finally comes to the floor today.

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Data Quality, Uncertainty, Precaution

Sep 12, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The latest issue of Rachel's Environment & Health News reviews the Data Quality Act and concludes with this sharp observation:

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Toxic Chemical Sites in New Orleans

This page contains major sites that store, use, or produce large quantities of toxic chemicals within Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard Parishes. OMB Watch created this page by merging four Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) databases, which OMB Watch makes publicly available through its project RTK NET (the Right-To-Know Network).

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States, Consumer Groups Sue over Energy Savings Standards

Sep 9, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The Department of Energy has failed to revise energy savings standards for home appliances, prompting 15 states and New York City to file suit. In the 1990s, Congress instructed DOE to develop performance criteria for household appliances and to periodically update those standards. However, deadlines for updating the energy savings standards of 22 different home appliances expired six to 13 years ago, costing consumers billions of dollars, according to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a plaintiff in the suit.

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