Citizen Health & Safety

States Slack Off on Environmental Enforcement

In Baytown, Texas, there sits an Exxon Mobil oil refinery -- the nation's largest -- with one pitiful environmental record. As documented in this report from the SEED Coalition, the plant has repeatedly violated state and federal laws -- frequently releasing large volumes of pollution on an unsuspecting public without reporting plant problems to the proper authorities. Over the last several years, the refinery has been guilty of dozens of incidents resulting in excessive emissions.

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Government Performance & Results Act of 1993

Text of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) One Hundred Third Congress of the United States of America AT THE FIRST SESSION Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-three An Act To provide for the establishment of strategic planning and performance measurement in the Federal Government, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

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Administration Kills Contractor Responsibility Rule

Two days after Christmas, with no one around to object, the Bush administration quietly revoked a Clinton-era rule that promotes greater accountability for federal contractors -- to make sure they comply with important public protections. Specifically, this contractor responsibility standard instructed government contracting officers to look at a bidding company's compliance with the law (including tax laws, labor laws, employment laws, environmental laws, antitrust laws and consumer protection laws) before awarding taxpayer dollars.

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OMB Identifies Regulations for Repeal

As part of its annual report to Congress on the costs and benefits of federal regulation, released last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a list of 23 "high priority" regulations it believes should be rescinded or revised. Many of these regulations are health, safety, and environmental standards, including major clean air and water standards (e.g., New

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OMB Issues Final "Data Quality" Rules

On January 3, 2002, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued final "data quality" rules, effective immediately. The rules were published pursuant to a rider on the FY 2001 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act (P.L. 106-554), which requires OMB to publish guidelines that "provide policy and procedural guidance to Federal agencies for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies." The rider requires agencies to issue their own implementing guidelines that include "administrative mechanisms allowing affected persons to seek and obtain correction of information maintained and disseminated by the agency."

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OMB Watch Launches First Issue of the Executive Report

This monthly report will provide an in-depth look at a variety of executive branch issues.

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EPA Seeks to Delay Pollution Cuts for Utilities

Though announcement serves as another example of how the Bush administration will cater to industry interests at the cost of public health, EPA spokesperson says it is not an attempt to roll back the rule.

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The Bush Administration Weakens Wetlands Rules

On January 14 the Army Corps of Engineers announced changes to several wetlands rules that will make it easier for developers, mining companies and others to qualify for general permits to dredge and fill wetlands, according to the Washington Post. This action comes on the heels of an October 2001 decision in which the Army Corps of Engineers issued a policy that allows developers to offset losses of wetlands on one site by protecting wetlands, or even dry land, elsewhere.

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Scalia Escapes Senate Confirmation to Become DOL Solicitor

As Solicitor, Scalia has jurisdiction over a wide range of legal and regulatory issues, ranging from mine safety and job training, to migrant workers and pension rights.

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Information Collection Requests up for Expiration

Normally, when agencies have pending paperwork requests at OIRA that do not get reviewed by the expiration date, approval for one year is inferred under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).

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