EPA chief defends California decision

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, March, 2008 | by John Shiffman Inquirer Staff Writer

WASHINGTON - EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson yesterday said critics were wasting their time investigating whether he was pressured by the White House to reject California's attempt to adopt stronger auto emission standards to reduce global warming. "There are a number of people who are creating a mystery novel when there's really no mystery to it," Johnson said in an interview.

He added that while he met with White House officials on the California issue last year, he "was not directed by anyone to make any decision." He said he made "a reasonable and fair evaluation of the information" and that critics suspicious of the process "just disagree" with the outcome. Johnson's remarks came on the day that he issued a formal, 48-page justification to his Dec. 17 decision to...