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Plastics Chemical Poses Health Risk, Businesses Respond
(04/29/2008)
The findings of a U.S. government science panel and actions by the Canadian government are prompting major retailers and manufacturers to reconsider selling products containing bisphenol-A, a chemical commonly found in hard plastics and food containers.
Fuel Economy Proposal: Higher Mileage, State Preemption (04/29/2008)
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mary E. Peters, announced April 22 a proposed new rule to raise fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. In December 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which required revisions to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The new rule, if implemented, would be the first significant improvement in fuel efficiency standards since the CAFE program's inception in 1975.
Farm Bill Proposes Food Safety Improvements (04/29/2008)
The huge farm bill reauthorization under discussion among House and Senate conferees contains two food safety-related items that could help regulatory agencies better protect the U.S. food supply and provide consumers with more information when making purchasing decisions. First, the bill contains country-of-origin labeling, primarily for marketing livestock by-products. Second, it proposes a bipartisan food safety commission to review the existing food system and make recommendations for improvements.
Reports Highlight MSHA's Failures at Crandall Canyon Mine (04/15/2008)
Two recent reports highlight the failures of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in approving the retreat mining plans at Crandall Canyon mine in Utah that resulted in nine deaths after a mine collapse in August 2007. A third report criticizes MSHA's approval and implementation of emergency response plans required by legislation passed by Congress in the wake of mining disasters across the country in 2006.
White House Gains Influence in Toxic Chemical Assessments (04/15/2008)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced changes to its process for assessing the human health effects of common chemical substances. The revised process will allow the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to play a larger role in the evaluation of the substances.
Congress Passes Clean Waterboarding Act (04/01/2008)
You're reading the special April Fools' Day, 2008, edition of The Watcher.
The Bush administration and congressional leaders agreed to begin negotiations over the Clean Waterboarding Act of 2008 that Congress passed April 1. The key sticking point is the administration's objections to leaving the responsibility for implementing the act to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to Congress, EPA is the agency that sets U.S. water quality standards and is therefore the most appropriate agency to ensure that, if domestic sources are used for waterboarding, the water is "clean." The administration wants the Justice Department (DOJ) to have the authority to implement the act because DOJ has the legal responsibility for justifying other torture tactics, and the agency can oversee the use of waterboarding in international settings. Since President Bush has stopped short of threatening a veto, an agreement with Congress is expected soon.
Bush Policy Revealed: President Suppresses Science He Can't Understand (04/01/2008)
You're reading the special April Fools' Day, 2008, edition of The Watcher.
In a surprise speech April 1, President George W. Bush acknowledged it is his policy to suppress or ignore science he cannot understand. "Sometimes I get reports that scientists want to regulate chemicals or pollution, but they use a bunch of jibber jabber and fancy math to make their point," Bush said. "The American people didn't elect me to read reports and understand science; they elected me to make decisions — that's why I'm the decider."
White House Interferes with Smog Rule (03/18/2008)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced March 12 its revision to the national air quality standard for ozone, or smog. While the new standard is an improvement, EPA did not go as far as its own scientists had recommended. Last-minute changes orchestrated by the White House have also mired the rule change in controversy. In addition to the new standard, EPA proposed legislative changes to the Clean Air Act, which environmentalists and lawmakers immediately criticized.
Bipartisan Consensus Forming on CPSC Reform (03/18/2008)
Although differences between the House and Senate still exist, Congress is moving toward a bipartisan agreement on major reforms to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Bills from each chamber need to be reconciled, but if Congress can agree on a single proposal, it will set up a showdown with the Bush administration over new provisions intended to expand consumer protections by revitalizing the CPSC.
Federal Meat Inspectors Spread Thin as Recalls Rise (03/04/2008)
The federal regulator of meat, poultry, and egg products, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), faces resource limitations that make it more difficult for the agency to ensure the safety of the food supply. Although the agency's budget has risen since it was created, staffing levels have dropped steadily. Widespread vacancies in the agency have spread FSIS's inspection force too thin. Meanwhile, the number of meat, poultry, and egg product recalls has risen, and a recent recall of 143 million pounds of beef is the largest in the nation's history.
Environmental, Worker Safety Rules Targeted by Industry Groups (03/04/2008)
The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy has finalized a list of ten rules it will encourage federal agencies to modify. The Office of Advocacy compiled the list after receiving recommendations from small businesses and industry lobbyists.
High Court Expands Federal Preemption in Medical Cases (03/04/2008)
The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up a series of cases that addresses the issue of whether federal agency approval of medical devices and drugs shields manufacturers of those products from liability under state laws. In a case decided Feb. 20, the Court held that federal law preempts state liability claims if certain medical devices received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The Court also considered if that same protection should be extended to drug manufacturers.
Bush Administration to Alter Employee Leave Protections (03/04/2008)
The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a proposed rule that would alter federal protections for workers who need to take leave to care for themselves or their families. DOL chose to pursue the rule changes after hearing complaints from industry lobbyists.
Coal Mine Safety Shortchanged by Years of Budget Cuts (02/20/2008)
Congress created the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in 1977, placing a new federal focus on miner safety and health. However, the agency's budget and staffing levels have been cut over the past three decades. The budget for MSHA's coal mine safety and health program has been particularly abused. In the past two years, a spike in coal mine fatalities and high-profile coal mine disasters have prompted many Americans and Congress to look to MSHA to improve miner safety, but years of budget cuts and the loss of qualified employees have left the agency struggling to fulfill its mission.
OMB Reports $508 Million in E-Gov Savings; Congress Remains Doubtful (02/20/2008)
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a report to Congress Feb. 14 that calculates the benefits of President Bush's 24 E-Government (E-Gov) Initiatives at approximately $508 million in Fiscal Year 2007, based on agencies' estimates. Congressional skepticism of the Initiatives, and subsequent reluctance to fund them, led OMB to develop a questionable funding mechanism using agency contributions from their annual budgets.
Product Safety Regulator Hobbled by Decades of Negligence (02/05/2008)
The nation's premiere consumer product regulator, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has been crippled by budget cuts and staffing losses that now span decades. Every president since Gerald Ford has proposed cutting the agency's budget at least once, and Congresses controlled by both parties have obliged. Recent attention surrounding massive product recalls prompted Congress at the end of 2007 to give the agency one of its biggest funding boosts, and lawmakers are considering additional legislation to ensure consistent long-term funding. President Bush's FY 2009 budget request, announced Feb. 4, proposes level funding for the agency.
2008 Executive Branch Regulatory Agenda: Building an Administrative Legacy (02/05/2008)
In 2007, President Bush used administrative decrees — such as issuing a new regulatory executive order and giving new powers to executive branch offices — to impact the regulatory process. The administration is likely to continue pursuing administratively what it cannot accomplish legislatively or does not wish to do in the light of day.
2008 Regulatory Policy Agenda: Congress Debates, States Act (01/23/2008)
In the current political climate, it is unlikely that Congress will succeed in passing legislation that protects the public from the range of regulatory failures we experienced in 2007. The barriers to substantially improving public health, worker safety, and environmental quality seem too high in this election year, especially given President Bush's willingness to use his veto power. What Congress can accomplish in 2008 is establishing legislative and oversight priorities over numerous health, safety, and environmental issues. In many instances, however, we will see states move ahead with a variety of actions designed to improve public protections. The executive branch will also play an increasingly important role as the Bush administration comes to a close.
Workers Threatened by Decline in OSHA Budget, Enforcement Activity (01/23/2008)
The consolidated appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in December 2007 cuts the budget of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for Fiscal Year 2008. OSHA, like many other federal agencies, already faces budget constraints that make it more difficult for the agency to achieve its mission. Over the past three decades, OSHA's budget, staffing levels, and inspection activity have dropped while the American workforce has grown and new hazards have emerged.
Miner Safety Bill Clears House, Bush Veto Looms (01/23/2008)
The House passed the Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act (S-MINER) on Jan. 16. The bill aims to improve mine safety and the responsiveness of the federal government's chief mine regulator, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), in response to the Crandall Canyon mine collapse and other recent disasters. White House officials have indicated President Bush will veto the bill.
EPA Denies State Efforts to Curb Global Warming (01/08/2008)
The Bush administration rejected an attempt by California and several other states to combat global warming by placing a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Stephen Johnson, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the decision Dec. 19, 2007. Environmental advocates and members of Congress have sharply criticized the decision, and several states have already filed suit in federal court hoping to overturn it.
Congress Limps Toward Product Safety Reform (01/08/2008)
Despite a record number of consumer product recalls in 2007, Congress adjourned in December without agreeing on legislation to restore the federal government's safety system. The House passed new legislation that would vastly improve the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) ability to regulate unsafe products. Weaker Senate legislation was blocked by a lack of bipartisan agreement.
A Year for Failure: Regulatory Policy News in 2007 (12/18/2007)
In 2007, new regulatory policies and the inability of federal agencies to protect the public made headlines more so than at any time in recent memory. Four themes dominated regulatory policy this year: an increase in White House influence over agency rulemaking activity and discretion, which added a perception of more political manipulation; the inability of the federal government to protect the public by ensuring the safety of imported goods; the voice of some industry groups calling for regulation; and the Bush administration's refusal to regulate in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, as in the case of climate change. At best, government has attempted to respond to crises instead of getting ahead of the curve. This has left the public uncertain about whether we can count on our government to provide adequate safeguards.
Political Influence Leads to Revised Endangered Species Decisions (12/04/2007)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will revise seven of eight decisions made under the Endangered Species Act program after reviewing them for improper political interference. The four-month review came as a result of a Department of Interior inspector general's investigation of allegations that former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Julie A. MacDonald, intimidated staff and changed the scientific information agency scientists developed for decisions about listing or delisting threatened or endangered species.
Scientific Wrangling over Air Quality Standard for Lead (12/04/2007)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to revise the national standard for airborne lead pollution, but differing scientific opinions among federal officials are further complicating a protracted rulemaking effort. The prevailing interpretation may have a significant impact on the agency's decision to tighten or weaken the standard.
Snowmobile Plan for Yellowstone Ignores Environmental Impacts (12/04/2007)
For at least a decade, the limit on snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park has been the subject of a pitched battle between conservationists and snowmobile advocates. The National Park Service (NPS) has announced a limit on snowmobile use in Yellowstone. As expected, NPS will allow 540 snowmobiles per day, an amount close to double the daily average from the previous winter.
Multinationals Push for New Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations (12/04/2007)
Two calls-to-action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions were released Nov. 30, shortly before world leaders met in Bali to begin outlining a global agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. First, business leaders from 150 global firms issued a communiqué calling for "a comprehensive, legally binding United Nations framework to tackle climate change." Second, a report sponsored by a coalition of U.S businesses and nongovernmental organizations said the U.S. could reduce its output of greenhouse gas emissions substantially using existing technologies and low-cost emerging alternatives, but to do so "will require strong, coordinated, economy-wide action that begins in the near future."
More of the Same: Import Safety Panel Leaves Business in Charge (11/20/2007)
The Bush administration's cabinet-level Interagency Working Group on Import Safety released its final report Nov. 6 on ways to improve the safety of food and consumer products imported into the U.S. The report calls for limited increases in some federal agencies' responsibilities but does little to change the current voluntary regulatory scheme that governs some $2 trillion worth of products, 800,000 importers and more than 300 ports-of-entry.
Bush Fuel Economy Measure Rejected by Court (11/20/2007)
A U.S. court of appeals has overturned a recent National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule that revised a national standard for fuel economy. Environmentalists hailed the ruling as a victory and framed it as condemnation of the Bush administration's record on fuel economy and global warming.
OSHA Issues Personal Protective Equipment Rule (11/20/2007)
Eight years after proposing it, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has finalized a worker safety rule. The final rule mandates employers pay for worker personal protective equipment (PPE). OSHA published the rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 15, and it is to take effect Feb. 13, 2008.
White House Rejects Krill Protection Rule (11/20/2007)
The White House has rejected an effort by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to protect krill, an important marine species abundant in the Pacific Ocean. NOAA's proposed rule is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting krill in the future but was rejected by White House officials for failing to identify a need for the regulation.
CPSC Reform Efforts Progress as Agency Woes Continue (11/06/2007)
Congress is working toward passage of legislation that would expand the resources and regulatory authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The bill would also address the continuing problem of lead-contaminated children's products by effectively banning the heavy metal's presence in toys and other goods. Senior administration officials are working to derail the legislation.
Vice President Reemerging in Regulatory Review Meetings (11/06/2007)
Representatives from the office of Vice President Richard Cheney have been involved in three current administration rulemakings. Their presence is indicative of a recent trend in which Cheney has involved his office in high-profile regulations.
Congress Told of FDA's Lax Inspection of Foreign Drug Makers -- Again (11/06/2007)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently told Congress that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspects an estimated seven percent of foreign drug manufacturing facilities. GAO can only provide an estimate because FDA doesn't know how many foreign facilities are subject to inspection due to inaccurate and uncoordinated databases that have vastly different estimates of the number of drug makers subject to the foreign drug inspection program. At this inspection rate, it would take FDA more than 13 years to inspect all existing facilities one time, assuming no additional facilities were added to the list.
While Feds Dither, States Move to Regulate Greenhouse Gases (10/23/2007)
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rejected an air permit for proposed power plants due to the threat of the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. The decision makes Kansas the latest state to take proactive steps to stem greenhouse gas emissions while federal agencies and Congress delay action and White House officials continue to question climate science.
Bush Administration Tries to Reverse Old-Growth Forest Protection Plan (10/23/2007)
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is trying to dismantle a 1994 landmark management plan that balances logging, endangered species and old-growth forest protections. BLM wants to revise the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) to allow logging on nearly one million acres of old-growth forest area included in the plan that protect habitats for species such as the northern spotted owl, salmon and other old-growth-dependent species. The proposed revisions ignore scientific recommendations, and the process appears to have been manipulated by Bush administration officials in Washington.
Report Finds Extensive Noncompliance with Clean Water Act Rules (10/23/2007)
A new report has found thousands of facilities are out of compliance with the requirements of the Clean Water Act. The report blames declining support for environmental enforcement during the Bush administration as a major cause of the regulatory violations. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG), a nonprofit organization working on environmental policy and public outreach, published the report titled Troubled Waters: An Analysis of 2005 Clean Water Act Compliance.
Bush Administration Delays Import Safety Changes While Congress Debates Solutions (10/10/2007)
The Bush administration and several of its regulatory agencies have been reluctant to address the safety of consumer goods as more recalls of harmful toys and contaminated foods occur. They seem content to delay substantive changes that could improve product safety. Congress, meanwhile, is trying to sort through the many legislative proposals to restore regulatory capacity to agencies and fix the fragmented U.S. import system.
States Sue Bush Administration over New Children's Health Insurance Requirements (10/10/2007)
Several states have sued the Bush administration over new policies governing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The suits follow broad opposition from state public health experts and congressional Democrats and Republicans who urged the administration to abandon the new policies. The suits also come as Congress attempts to reauthorize SCHIP after a presidential veto.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Proposes Climate Change Legislation Framework (10/10/2007)
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality issued the first in a series of white papers that will outline designs for complicated climate change legislation and regulation. The first white paper, released Oct. 3, outlines a design for a cap-and-trade program covering major greenhouse gases (GHG) that would form the cornerstone of comprehensive federal climate change legislation.
Congress Hears Pleas for Expanded Authority and Resources at CPSC (09/25/2007)
A proliferation of children's product recalls due to potentially dangerous exposure to lead has left many turning to the federal government for answers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has borne much of the brunt for the regulatory failures. Congress is considering solutions including new federal standards for lead, expanding the agency's regulatory authority and increasing agency resources.
New White House Guidelines Fit into Broad Attack on Federal Protections (09/25/2007)
The White House has issued new guidelines for federal agencies in conducting risk analysis. Risk analysis, of which risk assessment is a central factor, is a process by which agencies identify and evaluate risks such as toxic exposure or structural failure. Risk analysis often lays the scientific or technical foundation for public health and safety rulemakings.
Senate Reviews Agencies' Attempts to Preempt Congress and the States (09/25/2007)
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Sept. 12 about federal agencies' practice of inserting into regulations language that removes consumers' ability to sue under state tort law those corporations whose products cause harm. In addition, the use of this preemption language limits the ability of state and local governments to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens. Federal preemption removes the targeted policy area from state and local jurisdiction and makes it almost exclusively a federal policy issue.
Congress Expands FDA User Fee Program, Reforms Drug Safety Process (09/25/2007)
Congress has passed legislation which will reauthorize a program allowing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees from pharmaceutical companies in order to conduct drug approvals. The bill will also dramatically expand FDA's regulatory authority in response to recent controversy. President George W. Bush is expected to sign the bill into law soon.
Federal Agencies Knew of Diacetyl Dangers and Kept Silent (09/11/2007)
Federal regulatory agencies have known for years the dangers that diacetyl exposure creates among workers in factories where bags of microwave popcorn are tested. The only agency to have taken any action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has kept its study of the chemical's impact on consumers secret except for sharing it with the popcorn industry. Now the first case of potential consumer illness from exposure to diacetyl has been documented.
Bush's Anti-Regulatory Ideology under Increasing Scrutiny (09/11/2007)
The public and the media are paying more attention to and showing increasing frustration with the anti-regulatory ideology of President George W. Bush. A new report by the Center for American Progress traces several recent failures of the federal government to the anti-government views of Bush and senior administration officials. Separately, increasing concern over the federal product safety net is causing many to question Bush's seriousness about using government resources to protect American consumers.
It's Industry vs. Consumers and Health Specialists in National Ozone Hearings (09/11/2007)
Recent field hearings in five major U.S. cities highlighted the debate over the need to write a more stringent air quality standard for ozone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is under court order to issue an updated standard by March 2008. Industry representatives used two familiar arguments to urge EPA to leave the existing ten-year old ozone standard untouched, while public health experts and citizens argued the health impacts under the current standard are potentially devastating.
New Small Business Program Will Influence Agency Regulatory Reviews (09/11/2007)
The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy has launched a new program that may expand SBA's influence into agency regulatory activity. The Office of Advocacy acts as a liaison between the business community and the federal government, particularly the executive branch.
Crandall Canyon Mine Collapse Implicates MSHA Procedures (08/21/2007)
The Aug. 6 mine collapse at the Crandall Canyon coal mine in Utah, which trapped six coal miners and led to the deaths of three rescue workers, again calls into question the effectiveness of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The mine operators were working under a plan approved by MSHA in June, just months after serious structural problems forced the operators to abandon a work area only 900 feet from where the miners are trapped.
Bush Administration Skirts Broad Environmental Law (08/21/2007)
The Bush administration has expanded exclusions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The administration will allow private industry to engage in selected land management projects without first assessing the potential impact on the environment. Furthermore, by excluding these activities, the administration has stripped the public of its opportunity to provide input into potentially damaging projects.
New Report Examines Agency Review of Regulations (08/21/2007)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a new report on the process by which federal regulatory agencies review regulations after they take effect. Agencies conduct reviews to comply with existing law, as a matter of agency policy, and in response to White House requests. The report finds the quality of reviews varies widely and determines the major barriers to more useful reviews are gaps in available data and problems with public participation.
Toy Recalls Bring Attention to Commission's Inadequacies (08/07/2007)
The Aug. 2 recall by Mattel, Inc. of 1.5 million toys that may contain excessive levels of lead paint once again calls into question the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) voluntary approach to regulating industry. Mattel's recall follows the June recall of 1.5 million toys by the RC2 Corp. for the same lead-based paint danger.
OMB Manipulates Science in Cost-Benefit Analysis for Ozone Rule (08/07/2007)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a cost-benefit analysis for a proposed rule aiming to tighten the federal standard for human exposure to ground-level ozone, also known as smog. Before its release, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) edited scientific language in the analysis in order to downplay the economic benefits of the proposed rule.
Size Matters: Nanotechnologies Present New Challenges (08/07/2007)
Three documents released since July 26, and a recent public hearing, highlighted the difficulties of promoting promising new nanotechnologies, protecting public health and safety, and safely disposing of waste products from their use and manufacturing. Nanotechnology involves manipulating matter the size of one-billionth of a meter or 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. In 2005, more than $30 billion in nanotechnology products were sold globally, according to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Bush's Regulatory Changes Set to Go into Effect (07/24/2007)
As of today, July 24, federal agencies are to be in full compliance with all the provisions of Executive Order 13422 (E.O. 13422), which amends the regulatory process for agencies, and the Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices. Both documents were issued Jan. 18 and work in concert to bring significant changes to the way agencies develop and enforce public protections.
Amidst Increased Scrutiny, FDA Wants to Shut Testing Labs (07/24/2007)
Amidst increased scrutiny by the public and Congress of the problems with food imports and instances of bacterial outbreaks in the domestic food supply, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to close 7 of 13 laboratories that test for food safety.
White House Delays Whale Protection Rule (07/24/2007)
The White House is currently delaying the completion of a final rule intended to protect a critically endangered whale species. Critics are concerned the Bush administration is giving special access to business interests and overemphasizing economic considerations in its review of the rule. The delay of the whale protection rule is indicative of a larger problem in the White House regulatory review process.
House Votes to Stop Funding for Bush's Regulatory Changes (07/10/2007)
The House passed an appropriations bill June 28 that prevents parts of the executive branch from spending Fiscal Year 2008 funds on the implementation of President George W. Bush's controversial executive order amending the regulatory process. The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, FY 2008, (H.R. 2829) was amended by voice vote late on the night of June 27 and was passed the next day. The bill provides funding for everything from the Treasury Department and the Executive Office of the President to the Federal Election Commission and the U.S. Tax Court.
U.S. Ability to Regulate Chinese Imports in Question (07/10/2007)
The United States government is struggling to ensure the safety of consumer products and food imported from China, as evidenced by a recent spate of controversies involving dangerous Chinese-made products. While America's consumer product safety net is relatively strong, China's young market economy is largely unchecked by government regulators. Subsequently, dangerous Chinese products are finding their way to American shores where federal agency officials are unable to monitor the volume of imports.
EPA Suspends Fish Kill Rule (07/10/2007)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended a fish protection rule in response to a January court decision. The decision vacated parts of the rule, which White House officials had edited and weakened. EPA will now have to begin a new round of rulemaking in order to address the ecological problem.
Coal Miners Experience Unusual Occurrences of Black Lung Disease (07/10/2007)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released July 6 the results of studies prompted by reports that underground coal miners are still experiencing unusual occurrences of black lung disease despite federal regulations to prevent exposure to coal dust. The "clusters of rapidly progressing and potentially disabling pneumoconiosis," or black lung disease, were found in 2005 and 2006 in some eastern Kentucky and southern Virginia miners, according to CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
EPA Announces Proposed Smog Standard (06/26/2007)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced proposed changes to the national standard for ground-level ozone, also known as smog. Scientific consensus supports a limit substantially lower than the current standard. EPA's proposal has drawn criticism for being too weak to fully protect the public from the adverse health effects of ozone. A lack of transparency in the rulemaking process has left the public in the dark as to whether EPA, the White House or industry lobbyists may be to blame.
House Legislation Would Force Regulatory Review (06/26/2007)
The House has approved legislation that would expand the ability of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to aid small businesses in complying with federal and state regulations. However, the bill would also allow SBA to target regulations that the small business community finds objectionable.
House Bills Address Mining Health and Safety Shortfalls (06/26/2007)
Two House bills introduced June 19 address health and safety issues left out of the MINER Act passed in 2006 after coal miners died in three separate accidents in Kentucky and West Virginia. The bills also include provisions that will allow the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), often criticized for slow implementation of mining laws, to better address new and existing protections.
Democratic Disarray on Greenhouse Gases May Let Bush off the Hook (06/12/2007)
Two House Democrats are circulating a draft of legislation that, if passed, would effectively implement the position the Bush administration held regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions prior to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The legislation threatens to create enough disarray among Democrats that the hope for progress on GHGs generated by the court decision and the 2006 elections could be dashed.
White House Meets with Industry on Smog Standard (06/12/2007)
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is reviewing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) revision to the national ozone standard. A number of scientists have urged EPA to adopt a more stringent standard for ozone, also known as smog. Unusually, Vice President Dick Cheney's office has involved itself in the review of the standard. OIRA has also been consulting with industry representatives as it prepares to make edits to the standard and make recommendations to EPA.
Long-delayed EPA Risk Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors Exhibits Flaws (06/12/2007)
In its ninth year of work on the issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is about to begin the risk assessment process for an important but little-known group of chemicals called endocrine disruptors. However, scientists are concerned early indications of the assessment's construction will produce scientifically suspect results.
States Battle Administration on Vehicle Emissions (05/30/2007)
At least 12 states are considering developing regulations for vehicle greenhouse gas emissions that would exceed federal standards. These states cannot promulgate the rules because the primary federal framework for air pollutant regulation, the Clean Air Act, reserves the federal government's right to block state efforts. Critics are charging the Bush administration with impeding the environmental progress of states and delaying meaningful regulation of vehicle emissions.
Senate Watching Carefully as Risk Guidelines Reemerge (05/30/2007)
Two senators sent a letter to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Rob Portman urging OMB to abandon its plans for government-wide risk assessment standards. The letter comes shortly after the White House indicated it may renew its efforts on finalizing the standards.
House Hearing Asks Interior: Entangled in Politics, or Enlightened by Science? (05/15/2007)
In a May 9 hearing, the House Committee on Natural Resources heard witnesses discuss the extent to which Interior Department officials have manipulated scientific assessments when implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The hearing came on the heels of the resignation of a top-ranking official and the release of a departmental investigation that found rules violations and intimidation of agency scientists.
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