WP: EPA Backtracks on Easing Toxin Rule: Response to pressure from Democratic Senators

[DeepModem Mom]

EPA Backtracks on Easing Toxin Rule
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 30, 2006; Page A21

Under pressure from Democratic senators, the Bush administration has modified its proposal to ease public reporting requirements for companies that handle or release toxic chemicals.

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules for the Toxics Release Inventory, an annual accounting of more than 650 chemicals that industry releases into the air, land and water. The changes would raise the threshold for reporting releases of toxic chemicals in detail from 500 to 5,000 pounds and would allow companies to report every other year instead of annually.

In response, New Jersey Democratic senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez in July blocked confirmation of Bush's nominee to head the EPA's Office of Environmental Information, Molly O'Neill.

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, in a letter obtained by The Washington Post, has written to the two senators telling them that he is revising the proposal to restore the requirement for annual reports. "Your perspective on the program is invaluable to us," Johnson wrote.

The EPA had been tinkering with its proposal since shortly before this month's midterm elections, but Johnson's letter highlights how the political climate has shifted since the Democrats won control of the House and Senate. The administration is not likely to bend on its top environmental priorities, such as climate change, but it may make concessions on other fronts....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112901306.html

[NVMojo]

1. this is a big deal! Bush has long been a huge supporter of the gold mining

industry in Nevada that ranks extremely high every year as a major polluter on the Toxic Release Inventory that is taken. I'm in shock, quite frankly, especially since Bush was so warmly received in Elko, Nevada earlier this month to save the Repuke elections in this state of gold mining.

[Eugene]

2. kick and a quote from the AP

EPA Drops Plan to Ease Pollution Rules

By JOHN HEILPRIN
The Associated Press
Thursday, November 30, 2006; 4:49 PM

-snip-

Lautenberg and Menendez said they were pleased the EPA had responded
to their criticism of the proposed changes. But they said plans to move
ahead with a higher reporting threshold still "would essentially gut it."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113000853.html