Enviros Claim Political Meddling in EPA

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-exec/2007/aug/02/080209460.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday released an analysis of its new proposal to reduce smog levels that shows higher economic costs - but potentially more lives saved - the more stringent the regulation is.

The document angered environmentalists because in addition to analyzing three relatively stringent smog levels, EPA decided to study a fourth less-stringent smog level after intervention by the White House Office of Management and Budget, according to public documents in an EPA docket.

"The OMB ordered EPA to analyze a weaker standard than they had talked about earlier, and that to me is clear evidence that the White House is tampering with the EPA proposal and trying to make it weaker," said Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch.

EPA spokeswoman Jennifer Wood countered that the exchange between EPA and the OMB was routine.

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[Buzz Clik]

1. Gee, that would be a first.

The enforcement aspects of EPA have been slashed. New research has been slashed.

Now this?

Somebody get the smelling salts...