Ozone case shows Bush meddling in science: watchdogs - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Ozone case shows Bush meddling in science: watchdogs
Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:16pm EDT

By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's
decision to intervene in setting air pollution standards
is part of a longstanding administration pattern of
meddling in environmental science, watchdog groups
said on Friday.

-snip-

Asked why the president intervened, White House
spokesman Tony Fratto said: "What we were trying to
do on the smog decision was try to have a decision
that was consistent with our interpretation of the
statute. This was not a weakening of regulations or
standards governing ozone, but it was an effort to
make those standards consistent."

Environmental and scientific groups disagreed, saying
the decision benefits coal-fired power plants and other
industries that emit ground-level ozone. In addition to
harming plants, ozone smog endangers human health,
especially the young, the elderly and those with
respiratory problems.

"This is a pattern unfortunately that extends across the
Environmental Protection Agency, across pretty much
every science based agency in the federal government,"
said Tim Donaghy of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1441222820080314