Lawmakers Grill EPA Chief on California Law
    By Erica Werner
    The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

    Thursday 26 July 2007

    Washington - The head of the Environmental Protection Agency refused on Thursday to say whether he knew the Transportation Department was lobbying against a California global warming law.

    "I defer to the Transportation Department," EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson repeated three times in a row in response to questions from Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

    She replied: "I say that you are, with that statement, neglecting your responsibility to protect the health and welfare of the people."

    Documents released last month show that as the EPA was considering giving California permission to put in place state rules on tailpipe emissions, Transportation Department officials were contacting members of Congress and governors and suggesting they weigh in against the request.

    Democrats say such intervention was inappropriate and possibly illegal. The Transportation Department says it simply was disseminating information.

    Boxer said the actions indicate that the Bush administration does not intend to grant the request, which has been pending since December 2005. Johnson said the EPA would decide by year's end.

    Under the Clean Air Act, California has special permission to put in place its own pollution regulations if it can get a federal waiver. Other states then can follow California's standards or stick with the federal rules.

    In this case, California wants permission to cut greenhouse gas emissions, mostly carbon dioxide, by an estimated 25 percent from cars and 18 percent from sport utility vehicles, beginning in 2009. If California get the federal OK, a dozen other states are prepared to do the same.

    The auto industry is arguing for a single federal standard. That is the same case that Transportation Department officials sought to make when they contacted lawmakers' offices in early June, according to department documents released last month to Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight Government Reform Committee.

    The documents included an early June e-mail among Transportation Department aides about a planned telephone conversation between Johnson and Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters.

    Johnson said Thursday he told Peters during the call that he was not inclined to extend the June 15 deadline for public comment on California's request. He would not answer "yes" or "no" as to whether he knew Transportation Department aides were working behind the scenes against the waiver.

    "I don't have any responsibility for the Transportation Department. My responsibility is for EPA," Johnson said.