Citizen Health & Safety

House Oversight on Regulatory Process Changes: Part II

Apr 27, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Yesterday, the House Science and Technology Committee subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a long-awaited second hearing on President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. Much of the hearing focused on the role of the Regulatory Policy Officer (RPO) — a position with newly enhanced responsibilities.

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OIRA Instructs Agencies to Comply with Regulatory Process Changes

Apr 26, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Last night, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) issued a memo instructing agencies on how to implement President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. The memo was the first missive by newly minted OIRA administrator Susan Dudley.

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Watch the Hearing Live

Apr 26, 2007 by Matthew Madia

As Reg•Watch blogged yesterday, the House Science and Technology Committee subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight will hold a hearing on President Bush's changes to the regulatory process. OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass will be testifying. Watch the hearing live starting at 10:00 a.m.

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Johnson Refuses to Admit Danger of CO2, Astonishes Audience

Apr 25, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Not to be outdone by Alberto Gonzales, Stephen Johnson appeared before the Senate yesterday and achieved new levels of obstinacy. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee questioned Johnson, the administrator of EPA, about the Supreme Court's recent ruling affirming the agency can regulate carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act. The legislation instructs EPA to regulate harmful air pollutants.

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EPA Pollutes Scientific Thought

Apr 24, 2007 by Matthew Madia

The EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) is supposed to be a group of scientists who independently analyze standards for the implementation of the Clean Air Act. Those standards are integral in ensuring progressive air pollution limitations that embody the latest scientific and technological breakthroughs. As Reg•Watch has reported, CASAC recently recommended tighter standards for smog, much to the chagrin of industry and EPA brass.

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Small Government, Big Problems

Apr 18, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Author Rick Perlstein has an excellent opinion piece on TomPaine.com. He argues conservative values, specifically the idea of limited government, are responsible for the dwindling ability of the FDA to ensure the safety of the nation's food supply. Perlstein argues that budget cuts are responsible for the FDA's inability to preempt contaminated food crises. When the FDA does act it is often too late, as it was with the recent peanut butter incident:

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Latest Watcher

Apr 18, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time: Recess Appointment Makes Dudley Head of White House Regulatory Policy Office Courts Rebuke Bush Administration's Forest Actions EPA Issues another Delay in Contaminant Regulation

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Polar Bears: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

New accusations of manipulating scientific information and gagging government scientists have arisen amidst the government's consideration of listing polar bears as an endangered species. Memos that censored scientists traveling to countries around the Arctic region and draft reports that were significantly altered in their final form have fueled these concerns. A leaked

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California Moves to Reinstate Reporting Standards Weakened by Federal EPA

California, a leader in strong environmental policy, has introduced a bill that would restore reporting requirements for toxic chemicals to pre-U.S. EPA rollback threshold levels. As the federal government weakens toxic waste regulation, states are taking charge of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and prioritizing the protection of their residents. The California Toxic Release Inventory Program Act of 2007 (Assembly Bill 833) maintains the previous level of reporting and prevents the federal changes from impacting the state program.

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EPA Issues another Delay in Contaminant Regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently called for further study of a substance found in rocket fuel before regulation of the contaminant can occur. A Senate champion of environmental protections criticized the decision, which is the latest delay in a regulatory policy EPA has been developing since 1998.

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