In The News
Inhofe Pans Krueger Despite White House Raves (Human Events)
Tuesday August 30, 2011
Although the name of Sen. Jim Inhofe (R.-Okla.) did not come up at the press briefing at the White House yesterday, Press Secretary Jay Carney made it clear that the administration is gearing up for a confirmation battle over the nomination of Alan Krueger to be chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) against opposition that is sure to be led by Inhofe.
In response to a question from Talk Radio Network's Victoria Jones about why he felt Senate Republicans would want to confirm Krueger, Carney noted that the Senate had confirmed him for other positions before this one. Then Carney went on to trot out endorsements of the nominee by prominent Republicans-a bit unusual to do only hours after the President had announced he was nominating Krueger to succeed Austan Goolsbee as CEA chairman.
In response to a question from Talk Radio Network's Victoria Jones about why he felt Senate Republicans would want to confirm Krueger, Carney noted that the Senate had confirmed him for other positions before this one. Then Carney went on to trot out endorsements of the nominee by prominent Republicans-a bit unusual to do only hours after the President had announced he was nominating Krueger to succeed Austan Goolsbee as CEA chairman.
Senate Republicans request IG probe of commission chairman
Thursday August 25, 2011
Four Senate Republicans asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's inspector general today to investigate the agency's chairman for alleged abuses of emergency authorities and withholding information from fellow commission members.
Sens. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and David Vitter of Louisiana say NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko is thwarting the five-member commission's ability to make decisions in a crisis spurred by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that crippled a Japan nuclear plant.
At issue is Jaczko's use of authority granted under Section 3 of NRC's 1980 reorganization plan, which allows for the transfer of certain commission powers to the chairman himself. Jaczko justified use of that power since the United States issued tsunami warnings in the wake of the Japan earthquake (Greenwire, April 29).
Congress passed the reorganization law in the aftermath of the 1979 partial meltdown at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant. Former NRC Chairman Richard Meserve last used that authority following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to raise security designations at U.S. nuclear plants to the highest levels, NRC said.
Sens. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and David Vitter of Louisiana say NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko is thwarting the five-member commission's ability to make decisions in a crisis spurred by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that crippled a Japan nuclear plant.
At issue is Jaczko's use of authority granted under Section 3 of NRC's 1980 reorganization plan, which allows for the transfer of certain commission powers to the chairman himself. Jaczko justified use of that power since the United States issued tsunami warnings in the wake of the Japan earthquake (Greenwire, April 29).
Congress passed the reorganization law in the aftermath of the 1979 partial meltdown at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant. Former NRC Chairman Richard Meserve last used that authority following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to raise security designations at U.S. nuclear plants to the highest levels, NRC said.
Senate GOP wants Jaczko investigation
Thursday August 25, 2011
NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko is under fire once again as Senate Republicans demand a new investigation into his actions in response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis.
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and three of his colleagues on the panel, sent a letter to NRC inspector general Hubert Bell Wednesday calling for a review of Jaczko’s use of emergency powers after the Japanese nuclear incident began.
The lawmakers say Jaczko “exceeded his authority” as chairman in assuming emergency powers because the facility under threat was in Japan and therefore not a licensee of the NRC.
Wednesday’s letter also jumped on a previous NRC IG report finding that said Jaczko “strategically withheld” information from his fellow commissioners regarding the agency’s shutdown of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
Jaczko also blocked the distribution of a paper from the agency’s executive director for operations that was meant to provide context and recommendations to the commission on a recent post-Fukushima task force report, the senators wrote. Jaczko, they said, has “inhibited the flow of information to the commission,” by blocking the paper from his colleagues on the commission.
Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and David Vitter (R-La.) also signed the letter.
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and three of his colleagues on the panel, sent a letter to NRC inspector general Hubert Bell Wednesday calling for a review of Jaczko’s use of emergency powers after the Japanese nuclear incident began.
The lawmakers say Jaczko “exceeded his authority” as chairman in assuming emergency powers because the facility under threat was in Japan and therefore not a licensee of the NRC.
Wednesday’s letter also jumped on a previous NRC IG report finding that said Jaczko “strategically withheld” information from his fellow commissioners regarding the agency’s shutdown of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
Jaczko also blocked the distribution of a paper from the agency’s executive director for operations that was meant to provide context and recommendations to the commission on a recent post-Fukushima task force report, the senators wrote. Jaczko, they said, has “inhibited the flow of information to the commission,” by blocking the paper from his colleagues on the commission.
Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and David Vitter (R-La.) also signed the letter.
Politico Pro: Testing Obama's advice to a farmer, the sequel
Friday August 19, 2011
After a farmer expressed his concerns about rules and regulations that he heard could hurt his industry to President Barack Obama at a town hall in Atkinson, Ill., on Wednesday, POLITICO tested Obama's advice that the man "contact USDA." That didn't lead to very helpful answers.
The response - eventually - from a USDA representative was that "the question that was posed did not fall within USDA jurisdiction," but rather the Environmental Protection Agency.
Turns out, Obama administration officials have been trying to fight rumors about various nonexistent regulations in farm states all year. Among them, a "cow tax" on farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by livestock and limits for ammonia and ammonium under clean air rules.
Earlier this year, EPA struck down a rumor that it would regulate spilled milk the way it regulates spilled oil. To end this misinformation, the agency formally exempted milk containers from rules aimed at preventing oil spills from reaching water supplies. And the EPA's clean air rules for nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides released in July didn't include limits for ammonia or other reduced forms of nitrogen.
EPA chief Lisa Jackson, who has been traveling to farm country in an attempt to improve her agency's image, has repeatedly insisted that the EPA has no plans to regulate farm dust, and she says that the cow tax rumor was a myth started by a lobbyist.
The response - eventually - from a USDA representative was that "the question that was posed did not fall within USDA jurisdiction," but rather the Environmental Protection Agency.
Turns out, Obama administration officials have been trying to fight rumors about various nonexistent regulations in farm states all year. Among them, a "cow tax" on farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by livestock and limits for ammonia and ammonium under clean air rules.
Earlier this year, EPA struck down a rumor that it would regulate spilled milk the way it regulates spilled oil. To end this misinformation, the agency formally exempted milk containers from rules aimed at preventing oil spills from reaching water supplies. And the EPA's clean air rules for nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides released in July didn't include limits for ammonia or other reduced forms of nitrogen.
EPA chief Lisa Jackson, who has been traveling to farm country in an attempt to improve her agency's image, has repeatedly insisted that the EPA has no plans to regulate farm dust, and she says that the cow tax rumor was a myth started by a lobbyist.
Politico: Obama's unhelpful advice
Thursday August 18, 2011
At Wednesday's town hall in Atkinson, Ill., a local farmer who said he grows corn and soybeans expressed his concerns to President Obama about "more rules and regulations" - including those concerning dust, noise and water runoff -- that he heard would negatively affect his business.
The president, on day three of his Midwest bus tour, replied: "If you hear something is happening, but it hasn't happened, don't always believe what you hear."
When the room broke into soft laughter, the president added, "No -- and I'm serious about that."
Saying that "folks in Washington" like to get "all ginned up" about things that aren't necessarily happening ("Look what's comin' down the pipe!"), Obama's advice was simple: "Contact USDA."
"Talk to them directly. Find out what it is that you're concerned about," Obama told the man. "My suspicion is a lot of times they're going to be able to answer your questions and it will turn out that some of your fears are unfounded."
Call Uncle Sam. Sensible advice, but perhaps the president has forgotten just how difficult it can be for ordinary citizens to get answers from the government.
The president, on day three of his Midwest bus tour, replied: "If you hear something is happening, but it hasn't happened, don't always believe what you hear."
When the room broke into soft laughter, the president added, "No -- and I'm serious about that."
Saying that "folks in Washington" like to get "all ginned up" about things that aren't necessarily happening ("Look what's comin' down the pipe!"), Obama's advice was simple: "Contact USDA."
"Talk to them directly. Find out what it is that you're concerned about," Obama told the man. "My suspicion is a lot of times they're going to be able to answer your questions and it will turn out that some of your fears are unfounded."
Call Uncle Sam. Sensible advice, but perhaps the president has forgotten just how difficult it can be for ordinary citizens to get answers from the government.
Interior IG sees potential conflict in suspended biologist's role vetting polar bear study
Wednesday August 17, 2011
An Interior Department biologist potentially violated procurement rules when he helped another scientist prepare a proposal for an agency-funded study, according to a letter from Interior's inspector general.
The letter sheds light on an investigation that has caused an uproar among environmentalists.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement suspended wildlife biologist Charles Monnett last month, prompting widespread debate over whether the investigation was related to his 2006 paper on drowned polar bears. That paper helped galvanize the global warming movement, and a transcript revealed that IG investigators questioned Monnett in detail about his observations and scientific methods for it.
But in a letter sent to Monnett this week, Special Agent in Charge David Brown alleges that the biologist assisted Andrew Derocher in preparing a response to the government's request for proposal for a current study on polar bears. The sole-source contract was subsequently awarded to Derocher's employer, the University of Alberta in Canada.
Monnett was chairman of the Technical Proposal Evaluation Committee. By helping Derocher draft that proposal, Monnett essentially reviewed a document he helped write, according to the IG letter.
The letter sheds light on an investigation that has caused an uproar among environmentalists.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement suspended wildlife biologist Charles Monnett last month, prompting widespread debate over whether the investigation was related to his 2006 paper on drowned polar bears. That paper helped galvanize the global warming movement, and a transcript revealed that IG investigators questioned Monnett in detail about his observations and scientific methods for it.
But in a letter sent to Monnett this week, Special Agent in Charge David Brown alleges that the biologist assisted Andrew Derocher in preparing a response to the government's request for proposal for a current study on polar bears. The sole-source contract was subsequently awarded to Derocher's employer, the University of Alberta in Canada.
Monnett was chairman of the Technical Proposal Evaluation Committee. By helping Derocher draft that proposal, Monnett essentially reviewed a document he helped write, according to the IG letter.
Tulsa World: Inhofe seeking data on polar bear probe
Monday August 15, 2011
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, former vice president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore, and the polar bear.
That triad from the years-old global warming debate is back - sort of. And this time there's a mysterious investigation - some say witch hunt - thrown into the mix.
Inhofe managed to put the trio back together in a recent letter to Mary Kendall, the acting inspector general at the U.S. Department of Interior, asking for more information about an investigation involving Charles Monnett.
A veteran government scientist, Monnett five years ago co-wrote a peer-reviewed journal article about seeing four apparently drowned polar bears in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in 2004, possibly an unprecedented sighting.
Monnett and co-author Jeffrey Gleason concluded the four bears likely drowned after being caught out in open water during rough seas and more may have met the same fate.
That triad from the years-old global warming debate is back - sort of. And this time there's a mysterious investigation - some say witch hunt - thrown into the mix.
Inhofe managed to put the trio back together in a recent letter to Mary Kendall, the acting inspector general at the U.S. Department of Interior, asking for more information about an investigation involving Charles Monnett.
A veteran government scientist, Monnett five years ago co-wrote a peer-reviewed journal article about seeing four apparently drowned polar bears in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in 2004, possibly an unprecedented sighting.
Monnett and co-author Jeffrey Gleason concluded the four bears likely drowned after being caught out in open water during rough seas and more may have met the same fate.
Politico Pro: Inhofe wants details on Monnett investigation, polar bears
Wednesday August 10, 2011
Famed global warming skeptic Jim Inhofe is just as curious as the rest of us as to why the Interior Department's inspector general is asking questions about a 5-year-old report of drowned polar bears.
The Oklahoma Republican senator wrote a letter Tuesday to the Interior inspector general demanding more specifics about the investigation of Charles Monnett, a BOEMRE wildlife biologist who was suspended last month.
Monnett's lawyers at the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have raised the issue that the inspector general probe and suspension are connected to his 2006 paper about drowned polar bears in the Arctic that became a driver in the push to address global warming.
Interior has not said why it suspended Monnett, but BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich has insisted it has "nothing to do with his scientific work, or anything relating to a 5-year-old journal article, as advocacy groups and the news media have incorrectly speculated."
The Oklahoma Republican senator wrote a letter Tuesday to the Interior inspector general demanding more specifics about the investigation of Charles Monnett, a BOEMRE wildlife biologist who was suspended last month.
Monnett's lawyers at the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have raised the issue that the inspector general probe and suspension are connected to his 2006 paper about drowned polar bears in the Arctic that became a driver in the push to address global warming.
Interior has not said why it suspended Monnett, but BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich has insisted it has "nothing to do with his scientific work, or anything relating to a 5-year-old journal article, as advocacy groups and the news media have incorrectly speculated."
Ozone Update
Monday August 8, 2011
Politico Pro says don’t expect EPA announcement on the reconsideration of the ozone standard to happen this week:
In the News...
POLITICO PRO
MORNING ENERGY
CRUNCH TIME – The EPA is required to check in by Friday with a federal appeals court on its plans for revising the George W. Bush-era ozone standard. The EPA has declined to say publicly when the rule is coming, although agency officials say it'll be done soon.
THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME — Sources on and off Capitol Hill tell Robin it's unlikely that the rule will be final by the Friday court deadline, but the EPA may be able to stave off court action if it tells the court it's still working on the revision. OMB began reviewing the rule on July 11, a process that can take up to 90 days with possible extensions.
AND IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A WATER LANDING – Depending on how long the delay lasts, administration attorneys could be forced to defend the 2008 standard against pending legal challenges, which the court agreed to put on hold while the EPA reconsidered the rule.
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In the News...
POLITICO PRO
MORNING ENERGY
CRUNCH TIME – The EPA is required to check in by Friday with a federal appeals court on its plans for revising the George W. Bush-era ozone standard. The EPA has declined to say publicly when the rule is coming, although agency officials say it'll be done soon.
THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME — Sources on and off Capitol Hill tell Robin it's unlikely that the rule will be final by the Friday court deadline, but the EPA may be able to stave off court action if it tells the court it's still working on the revision. OMB began reviewing the rule on July 11, a process that can take up to 90 days with possible extensions.
AND IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A WATER LANDING – Depending on how long the delay lasts, administration attorneys could be forced to defend the 2008 standard against pending legal challenges, which the court agreed to put on hold while the EPA reconsidered the rule.
###
National Journal: Rumors Fly About OMB Request on EPA Ozone Rules
Friday August 5, 2011
Senior GOP Hill sources and industry lobbyists tell National Journal that OMB requested a 30-day delay on signing off on EPA's ozone standard, which the agency had said it would issue by last month but hasn't yet. OMB received the rule on July 11, and it reminded NJ on Thursday that it has up to 90 days to review any given rule. Meanwhile, clean-energy lobbyists supporting EPA's timely issuance of the standard said that EPA is unlikely to issue the rule by August 12, the day briefs are due in court on litigation related to updating this standard -- and the date the agency had signaled to stakeholders last week it was aiming for.
