In The News
Politico Pro: Senate GOP plans shadow EPA hearings
Wednesday May 25, 2011
Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee are setting up their own hearings to probe controversial rules coming from the EPA.
Committee Democrats, led by Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, have held 10 hearings this year relating to EPA policies, including panels on renewable fuels, hydraulic fracturing, drinking water and diesel emissions.
But Republicans aren't satisfied, and are organizing a series of roundtable discussions in coming weeks for Senate staff to delve into various EPA rules that have come under fire on Capitol Hill.
Among the EPA rules that will likely see scrutiny: air toxics regulations for boilers and utilities, the next round of climate rules aimed at utilities and refineries and a national air quality standard for ozone, said a GOP committee aide.
Committee Democrats, led by Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, have held 10 hearings this year relating to EPA policies, including panels on renewable fuels, hydraulic fracturing, drinking water and diesel emissions.
But Republicans aren't satisfied, and are organizing a series of roundtable discussions in coming weeks for Senate staff to delve into various EPA rules that have come under fire on Capitol Hill.
Among the EPA rules that will likely see scrutiny: air toxics regulations for boilers and utilities, the next round of climate rules aimed at utilities and refineries and a national air quality standard for ozone, said a GOP committee aide.
Seattle Times Editorial: U.S. Senate should confirm William Ostendorff to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Wednesday May 25, 2011
The nation's nuclear waste may not be a sexy topic, but the political intrigue and manipulation behind federal efforts to kill the nation's official deep-geological nuclear-waste repository has more twists than a season of "General Hospital."
The latest nail-biter is the disposition of the renomination of Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner William C. Ostendorff. A Senate committee hearing is set for Wednesday, oddly late considering his term expires June 30. Ostendorff's status is important because he has been part of the commission's deliberations on the controversial question of whether the Obama administration can unilaterally cancel the Yucca Mountain, Nev., repository that Congress designated in law.
At stake for Washington state is where to dispose of the two-thirds of the nation's dangerous cold-war era nuclear defense wastes now stored at Hanford near the Columbia River in southeastern Washington state. Already 1 million gallons have leached into the ground.
The latest nail-biter is the disposition of the renomination of Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner William C. Ostendorff. A Senate committee hearing is set for Wednesday, oddly late considering his term expires June 30. Ostendorff's status is important because he has been part of the commission's deliberations on the controversial question of whether the Obama administration can unilaterally cancel the Yucca Mountain, Nev., repository that Congress designated in law.
At stake for Washington state is where to dispose of the two-thirds of the nation's dangerous cold-war era nuclear defense wastes now stored at Hanford near the Columbia River in southeastern Washington state. Already 1 million gallons have leached into the ground.
Oklahoman: EPA chief Lisa Jackson says natural gas production is ‘a good thing'
Wednesday May 25, 2011
WASHINGTON - The head of the Environmental Protection Agency told a House committee Tuesday that she favored natural gas production and said she didn't know of any "proven case" in which hydraulic fracturing had affected drinking water.
Lisa Jackson, the EPA administrator, also told Rep. James Lankford that natural gas companies should be well aware of the study being done by the agency on hydraulic fracturing because their input has been solicited.
Jackson testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which released separate reports on energy this week.
The Republican majority report accused the Obama administration of trying to raise energy prices by stifling domestic oil and gas production and pursuing climate change policies, while Democrats said excessive speculation in the oil futures market was behind recent spikes in oil prices.
Lisa Jackson, the EPA administrator, also told Rep. James Lankford that natural gas companies should be well aware of the study being done by the agency on hydraulic fracturing because their input has been solicited.
Jackson testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which released separate reports on energy this week.
The Republican majority report accused the Obama administration of trying to raise energy prices by stifling domestic oil and gas production and pursuing climate change policies, while Democrats said excessive speculation in the oil futures market was behind recent spikes in oil prices.
Daily Caller: Inhofe letter asks why EPA requests $1.24 billion in new funding, despite $2 billion on hand
Wednesday May 25, 2011
Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe is challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's request for $1.24 billion in new funding when the agency has more than $2 billion at hand left over from the 2011 budget.
A February report from the Office of Management and Budget showed the agency still had $2.26 billion in unspent funding at the time. The EPA has requested $1.24 billion in additional funding for the 2012 fiscal year.
In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Tuesday, obtained by The Daily Caller, Inhofe questioned the agency's choice not to spend the unused funds and asked why its budget has grown so much.
"At a time when we are looking for every opportunity to cut spending and reduce the deficit, the EPA must be held accountable for why such a large portion of funds from the FY2011 Superfund budget sat idle and were clearly not used to protect the environment or public health," Inhofe, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, told TheDC.
A February report from the Office of Management and Budget showed the agency still had $2.26 billion in unspent funding at the time. The EPA has requested $1.24 billion in additional funding for the 2012 fiscal year.
In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Tuesday, obtained by The Daily Caller, Inhofe questioned the agency's choice not to spend the unused funds and asked why its budget has grown so much.
"At a time when we are looking for every opportunity to cut spending and reduce the deficit, the EPA must be held accountable for why such a large portion of funds from the FY2011 Superfund budget sat idle and were clearly not used to protect the environment or public health," Inhofe, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, told TheDC.
EPA Responds to Inhofe Lead-Based Paint Implementation Concerns
Monday May 23, 2011
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responded (here and here) to Senator Inhofe's latest letters expressing concern about EPA's implementation of the "Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule" (LRRP). While Senator Inhofe supports the intent of the rule, which is to protect children and pregnant women from the hazards of lead paint dust, he has been a staunch critic of EPA's handling of the rule's implementation (see more here).
On April 15, Senator Inhofe, along with eleven other senators, contacted the EPA to address two aspects of the rule's implementation:
The first letter questions new amendments to the rule that would require "clearance testing" to prove the presence or absence of lead following a project's completion. This would impose significant confusion and complication for renovators who have already completed their lead-based paint training and could result in additional costs to pay for the clearance testing. In particular, this may push homeowners either to hire uncertified individuals or perform the renovation work themselves, which is absolutely counter to the intent of the rule: to protect people from the dangers of lead dust.
On April 15, Senator Inhofe, along with eleven other senators, contacted the EPA to address two aspects of the rule's implementation:
The first letter questions new amendments to the rule that would require "clearance testing" to prove the presence or absence of lead following a project's completion. This would impose significant confusion and complication for renovators who have already completed their lead-based paint training and could result in additional costs to pay for the clearance testing. In particular, this may push homeowners either to hire uncertified individuals or perform the renovation work themselves, which is absolutely counter to the intent of the rule: to protect people from the dangers of lead dust.
LA Times Editorial: In the 2012 campaign, environmentalists don't matter
Friday May 20, 2011
Shortly after his party's "shellacking" in the midterm election, President Obama ordered government agencies to ensure that new regulations took economic growth into consideration and that old ones be revoked if they "stifle job creation or make our economy less competitive." Five months later, it's becoming pretty clear what he meant: The environment and public health will be thrown under a bus for the sake of his reelection in 2012.
The latest victim of the administration's new political direction is a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule to limit emissions from industrial boilers, which power oil refineries, chemical plants and other factories. The EPA indefinitely rescinded the proposal this week, citing Obama's January executive order on regulations and claiming that the agency hadn't had time to properly address industry concerns about the rule since a draft was released in September. The EPA first proposed a version of the boiler rules in 2004, and it has had ample time and input to get it right by now.
Also put on a slow track by the administration are new rules on storing toxic coal ash, an issue EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said she'd address in the wake of a disastrous Tennessee spill in 2008; earlier this month, EPA officials said they wouldn't get around to finishing the rules, which were expected by the end of last year, until at least 2012. The powerful coal industry scored another victory when the administration delayed an EPA guideline on mountaintop-removal mining last month.
The latest victim of the administration's new political direction is a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule to limit emissions from industrial boilers, which power oil refineries, chemical plants and other factories. The EPA indefinitely rescinded the proposal this week, citing Obama's January executive order on regulations and claiming that the agency hadn't had time to properly address industry concerns about the rule since a draft was released in September. The EPA first proposed a version of the boiler rules in 2004, and it has had ample time and input to get it right by now.
Also put on a slow track by the administration are new rules on storing toxic coal ash, an issue EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said she'd address in the wake of a disastrous Tennessee spill in 2008; earlier this month, EPA officials said they wouldn't get around to finishing the rules, which were expected by the end of last year, until at least 2012. The powerful coal industry scored another victory when the administration delayed an EPA guideline on mountaintop-removal mining last month.
Politico Pro: Reid pushes greens to hold friendly fire
Friday May 20, 2011
Harry Reid made it clear to environmental group big shots on Wednesday that he doesn't want any friendly fire causing problems as he defends his razor-thin majority in 2012.
Reid didn't raise his voice during the exchange. That's not the Nevada Democrat's style. Still, he showed he wasn't pleased that the typically nonpartisan League of Women Voters - whose advocacy director Lloyd Leonard was in the room - had targeted Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) with its "People, Not Polluters" ad that depicted a little girl coloring while wearing an oxygen mask.
"He was unhappy about that," said a source with knowledge of the meeting with Reid. "He's supposed to be. That's his job."
But scarred by their own big loss last year on global warming legislation, the greens countered that playing nice hasn't always worked out so well for them.
As they parted ways, they agreed to disagree over the use last month of the hardball ad attacking McCaskill for her floor vote to freeze the EPA's climate change powers for two years.
"Sometimes at the dinner table you talk about things that get a little sticky, but you come out of the room and you're still family," said another environmentalist familiar with the 45-minute meeting in Reid's office.
Reid didn't raise his voice during the exchange. That's not the Nevada Democrat's style. Still, he showed he wasn't pleased that the typically nonpartisan League of Women Voters - whose advocacy director Lloyd Leonard was in the room - had targeted Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) with its "People, Not Polluters" ad that depicted a little girl coloring while wearing an oxygen mask.
"He was unhappy about that," said a source with knowledge of the meeting with Reid. "He's supposed to be. That's his job."
But scarred by their own big loss last year on global warming legislation, the greens countered that playing nice hasn't always worked out so well for them.
As they parted ways, they agreed to disagree over the use last month of the hardball ad attacking McCaskill for her floor vote to freeze the EPA's climate change powers for two years.
"Sometimes at the dinner table you talk about things that get a little sticky, but you come out of the room and you're still family," said another environmentalist familiar with the 45-minute meeting in Reid's office.
Greens, Dems Split on 2012 Election Strategy
Thursday May 19, 2011
PoliticoPro: Reid, Greens Spar Behind the Scenes - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and environmental groups are at odds over how far greens should go in spanking Democrats who don't vote their way on key issues like the EPA's climate change powers and oil industry tax breaks. Reid and several of his top lieutenants emerged from a meeting Wednesday night with top green group CEOs pledging to protect the Clean Air Act against further assaults from Republicans and even some moderate Democrats. But behind the scenes, the majority leader and the environmentalists don't all see eye to eye on whether in-cycle Democrats deserve to be the target of ad campaigns when they also help make up Reid's razor-thin majority. Driving the debate is a League of Women Voters commercial that slammed Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) after she voted last month to freeze the EPA's rules for two years. Sierra Club CEO Michael Brune dragged the issue into the public spotlight Wednesday when he posted on Twitter the premise of the green group's closed-door meeting with the Democratic leaders. "What do u think about holding D's accountable for votes to gut Cl Air Act/keep oil subsidies?" he tweeted, referring to the EPA votes last month and Tuesday's roll call on legislation to repeal $21 billion in oil industry tax breaks. Democrats Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Begich of Alaska and Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted with Republicans to keep the industry incentives in place. In a conference call with Nevada reporters, Reid sounded none too happy about Brune's posting. "I think whoever this is in the Sierra Club had better get his facts right," the majority leader said, according to the Las Vegas Sun. "I don't buy the illogic of the tweet."
Fox News: EPA Delay of Boiler Rules a Victory for Obama?
Thursday May 19, 2011
In a concession to Republicans and moderate Democrats, the Obama administration has delayed two environmental restrictions on the nation's power plants.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson tapped the brakes on the controversial proposal following an order from the White House. The regulations would have tightened the emission standards on power plants and waste incinerators at facilities across the country. They were set to begin May 20, and both public institutions and private companies would have three years to implement them.
The Obama administration has argued the regulations were needed to protect Americans from deadly respiratory effects of mercury, dioxins and lead emitted when coal is burned to produce electricity. But corporations, particularly electric utilities, have been fighting the rule changes in Congress and sought to have the new standards overturned in court.
Business groups argue the regulations, which the EPA says would require them to implement "maximum achievable control technology," are costly and unnecessary and may force companies to shut down some plants leading to job losses and energy shortages.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson tapped the brakes on the controversial proposal following an order from the White House. The regulations would have tightened the emission standards on power plants and waste incinerators at facilities across the country. They were set to begin May 20, and both public institutions and private companies would have three years to implement them.
The Obama administration has argued the regulations were needed to protect Americans from deadly respiratory effects of mercury, dioxins and lead emitted when coal is burned to produce electricity. But corporations, particularly electric utilities, have been fighting the rule changes in Congress and sought to have the new standards overturned in court.
Business groups argue the regulations, which the EPA says would require them to implement "maximum achievable control technology," are costly and unnecessary and may force companies to shut down some plants leading to job losses and energy shortages.
Politico Pro: Reid, greens spar behind the scenes
Thursday May 19, 2011
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and environmental groups are at odds over how far greens should go in spanking Democrats who don't vote their way on key issues like the EPA's climate change powers and oil industry tax breaks.
Reid and several of his top lieutenants emerged from a meeting Wednesday night with top green group CEOs pledging to protect the Clean Air Act against further assaults from Republicans and even some moderate Democrats.
But behind the scenes, the majority leader and the environmentalists don't all see eye to eye on whether in-cycle Democrats deserve to be the target of ad campaigns when they also help make up Reid's razor-thin majority.
Reid and several of his top lieutenants emerged from a meeting Wednesday night with top green group CEOs pledging to protect the Clean Air Act against further assaults from Republicans and even some moderate Democrats.
But behind the scenes, the majority leader and the environmentalists don't all see eye to eye on whether in-cycle Democrats deserve to be the target of ad campaigns when they also help make up Reid's razor-thin majority.
