Waxman warns EPA: Don't destroy those documents
by Matthew Hay Brown
Rep. Henry A. Waxman opened an investigation into an EPA decision to stop California from regulating greenhouse gas emissions today with a warning to the agency’s administrator: Don’t destroy those documents.
Waxman, the Los Angeles Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wants to know why Stephen L. Johnson denied a request by the State of California to begin limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new automobiles.
“Prior to making this decision you assured the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, as well as the state of California and many others, that you would make this decision on the merits,” Waxman wrote to Johnson in a letter released by his office.
“It does not appear that you fulfilled that commitment,” Waxman wrote. “Your decision appears to have ignored the evidence before the agency and the requirements of the Clean Air Act. In fact, reports indicate that you overruled the unanimous recommendations of EPA’s legal and technical staffs in rejecting California’s petition.
“Your decision not only has important consequences to our nation, but it raises serious questions about the integrity of the decision-making process.”
Waxman told Johnson his committee was investigating that process, and asked the administrator to produce all relevant documents not already on the public record.
“This request includes all communications within the agency and all communications between the agency and persons outside the agency, including persons in the White House, related to the California waiver request,” he wrote. “And all agency staff should be notified immediately to preserve all documents relating to the California waiver request.”
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