EPA staff had advised OK of California's stricter emissions rule, probe finds: Political pressure?

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Los Angeles Times

By Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
February 26, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Before the head of the Environmental Protection Agency denied California permission to implement its own global-warming law, his staff advised that there was "no legal or technical justification" for turning down the state's request. That was among the findings of congressional investigators probing internal EPA documents to determine whether EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson was swayed by political pressure in his decision to refuse to allow California to enact emission standards for new cars and trucks that are more stringent than the federal government's.

The documents were released today even as a battle escalated between a key California Democrat, Sen. Barbara Boxer, the chairwoman of the Senate environment committee, and the administration over her efforts to get correspondence between the White House and the EPA leading up to Johnson's decision last December. A document released today showed Johnson was due to meet with White House officials last May to discuss California's request.

In one of the documents, Christopher Grundler, deputy director of the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, advised Margo Oge, the office's director, last October that not only was there no justification for denying California's request, but if EPA refused the state permission, "the credibility of the agency . . . will be irreparably damaged."

In another document, from October, EPA's climate change division staff advises that "there are additional conditions in California that make them vulnerable to climate change," a comment that seems to run counter to Johnson's assertion that California did not demonstrate "compelling and extraordinary conditions" required under the federal Clean Air Act to justify its own tailpipe law.

Boxer said the documents are further evidence that Johnson acted against the advice of his legal and science advisors in denying California's request....

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-na-waiver27feb27,0,4845012.story

[pinto]

1. The Republican politicization of federal agencies run amok, redux.

As a strong advocate for the role of government oversight agencies, this is one more point for a broad Democratic sweep in '08. Enough is enough.

[MilesColtrane]

2. Just in time for the '08 general election campaigns.

Now McCain's going to have buy a buttload of carbon offsets if he even wants to open his mouth in that state,