Citizen Health & Safety

Mandatory Cost-Benefit Analysis Fouls Senate Energy Bill

Jun 22, 2007 by Matthew Madia

You have likely read in your morning paper that late yesterday the Senate passed major energy legislation. News reports tout the accomplishments of Democrats in fending off industry influence and mandating an increase in CAFE standards — the national program regulating passenger vehicle fuel efficiency.

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EPA's Weak Ozone Proposal: A Case for Regulatory Transparency

Jun 21, 2007 by Matthew Madia

On June 21, EPA announced a proposal for a revised national standard for ozone exposure. The proposal, mandated by court order, proposes a range from which EPA will pick its final standard. Any limit picked from within the proposed range will fall short of what is needed to protect the public health. EPA's proposed range is 0.070 to 0.075 parts per million, but in recent months scientific consensus has emerged in supporting a limit no greater than 0.070 ppm and ideally closer to 0.060 ppm. EPA has already caught a lot of flack for skirting a real decision and proposing limits weaker than scientists have recommended. But the role of the White House should be scrutinized as well.

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Industry Gives Advanced Word on Ozone Standard

Jun 20, 2007 by Matthew Madia

EPA is under court order to publish by today a proposed rule on its periodic review of the national air quality standard for ozone. The rule just went through a White House regulatory review process characterized by closed-door meetings which let in industry reps. Public health experts were heard from in a last-minute meeting held Monday.

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Democrats Make Nice on Energy Legislation

Jun 19, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Recently, Reg•Watch has been critical of Congressional Democrats' disorganization on passing comprehensive energy legislation.

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White House Listens as Industry Calls for Weak Ozone Standard

Jun 15, 2007 by Matthew Madia

OMB Watch and Clean Air Watch have been carefully watching as the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviews EPA's rule to revise the national standard for ozone, a.k.a. smog. OIRA already entertained industry reps on two occasions (read more on that here). The press is starting to pay attention to this issue. Articles in Greenwire (subscription) and The Hill discuss the importance of a tighter standard and the scientific basis behind it. The articles also chronicle industry's efforts to block EPA from developing a more protective standard.

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Latest Watcher

Jun 13, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time: Democratic Disarray on Greenhouse Gases May Let Bush off the Hook White House Meets with Industry on Smog Standard Long-delayed EPA Risk Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors Exhibits Flaws

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NASA Inspector General Faces Tough Questioning from Congress

On June 7, the Senate and House held a joint hearing to investigate the conduct of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Inspector General, Robert Cobb. The hearing was conducted by the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics and Related Matters.

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Restored EPA Budget Holds Hope for Libraries and Labs

On June 7, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $27.6 billion Interior-Environment spending bill that increases the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) FY 2008 budget to $8.1 billion, a $361 million increase over current spending. It is also $887 million more than President Bush's budget request, which will likely trigger a veto threat.

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Long-delayed EPA Risk Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors Exhibits Flaws

In its ninth year of work on the issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is about to begin the risk assessment process for an important but little-known group of chemicals called endocrine disruptors. However, scientists are concerned early indications of the assessment's construction will produce scientifically suspect results.

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Big Problems with Cost-Benefit Analysis

Jun 12, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Yesterday, OMB Watch submitted comments on OMB's Draft 2007 Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulations. Congress has mandated OMB prepare this report each year. OMB Watch's comments point out the process of aggregating costs and benefits is a waste of time producing largely meaningless results: "Aggregation is economically unsound, distorts the virtue of strong federal regulations, and does not provide practical utility for public policy."

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