Bush Ordered EPA to Weaken Environmental Rules

[babylonsister]

Ozone Rules Weakened at Bush's Behest
EPA Scrambles To Justify Action

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 14, 2008; Page A01


The Environmental Protection Agency weakened one part of its new limits on smog-forming ozone after an unusual last-minute intervention by President Bush, according to documents released by the EPA.

EPA officials initially tried to set a lower seasonal limit on ozone to protect wildlife, parks and farmland, as required under the law. While their proposal was less restrictive than what the EPA's scientific advisers had proposed, Bush overruled EPA officials and on Tuesday ordered the agency to increase the limit, according to the documents.

"It is unprecedented and an unlawful act of political interference for the president personally to override a decision that the Clean Air Act leaves exclusively to EPA's expert scientific judgment," said John Walke, clean-air director for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The president's order prompted a scramble by administration officials to rewrite the regulations to avoid a conflict with past EPA statements on the harm caused by ozone.

Solicitor General Paul D. Clement warned administration officials late Tuesday night that the rules contradicted the EPA's past submissions to the Supreme Court, according to sources familiar with the conversation. As a consequence, administration lawyers hustled to craft new legal justifications for the weakened standard.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031304175.html?hpid=topnews

[woodsprite]

1. I saw that. He's f'd everything he possibly could for the American people.

Hubby said he did it because he wants his admin to have one last 'frat party' of policy destruction, raping of Lady Liberty, degradation of our country and mooning and thumbing his nose at the dems. He gets off on it.

[fed-up]

2. why doesn't the headline read-Bush ignores EPA Officials-Orders More Elderly/Babies Killed

so EPA ignores its own scientific advisors by setting less restrictive proposals and then Bush wants to increase that limit???
even yesterday's headline below is bogus-should read "EPA Ignores Own Scientists"!

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/12/dirty.air.ap/index.html

EPA orders tougher standards for cutting smog

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The air in hundreds of U.S. counties is simply too dirty to breathe, the government said Wednesday, ordering a multibillion-dollar expansion of efforts to clean up smog in cities and towns nationwide.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it was tightening the amount of ozone, commonly known as smog, that will be allowed in the air. But the lower standard still falls short of what most health experts say is needed to significantly reduce heart and asthma attacks from breathing smog-clogged air.

..snip

Johnson's decision was met with sharp criticism from health experts, and some members of Congress accused the EPA chief of ignoring the science. The new standard goes counter to the recommendations of two of the agency's scientific advisory panels -- one on air quality and the other on protection of children.

..snip

The science boards had told the agency that limits of 60 to 70 parts per billion are needed to protect the nation's most vulnerable citizens, especially children, the elderly and people suffering from asthma and other respiratory illnesses..

"Today's decision means millions of Americans will not get the protection that the law requires,"
said Bernadette Toomey, president of the American Lung Association, which had strongly urged the EPA to follow the advice of the science boards.

..snip

Electric utilities, oil companies and other businesses had lobbied hard for leaving the smog rule alone, saying the high cost of lower limits could hurt the economy.

..snip

The EPA has said, based on various studies, cutting smog from 80 to 75 parts per billion would prevent between 900 and 1,100 premature deaths a year and mean 1,400 fewer nonfatal heart attacks and 5,600 fewer hospital or emergency room visits. A separate study suggests that tightening the standard to 70 parts per billion could avoid as many 3,800 premature deaths nationwide.

[babylonsister]

3. Sigh. I feel your anger and disgust, and share it. nt