The twilight ozone

National Review, August 14, 1987 by Henry Klingemen

The Twilight Ozone

WHEN THE story broke that InteriorSecretary Don Hodel urged President Reagan to scrap plans to protect the world's ozone layer, environmentalists were outraged. Let them wear sunglasses, tanning lotion, and hats, Hodel allegedly told the President. A coalition of environmental groups held a press conference, wearing hats and sunglasses, and called for Hodel's resignation. The New York Times editorialized about Hodel's "rose-colored sunglasses,' and The New Republic blasted Hodel as a "Watt in sheep's clothing.' The only trouble with this amusing tale of gaffe in high places is that it's simply not true.

"Those words never passed mylips,' maintains Secretary Hodel, and some of his critics now agree. The day after the Washington Post broke the story, Senator Tim Wirth (D., Colo.) was on the Senate floor demanding an explanation. After corresponding with Hodel, Wirth admitted, "It appears as if he [Hodel] was misquoted, as if these statements were taken out of context. While many people have had a lot of fun with this issue and with the secretary, I think we ought to move beyond sunglasses, hats, and skin lotion . . .'

At issue is a proposed internationalagreement limiting production and use of chemicals some scientists believe deplete the ozone layer. Opponents of the agreement argue there is no firm scientific evidence linking the chemicals with ozone decay. At the Cabinet meeting that led to the misleading press reports, Hodel expressed reservations about the agreement being shaped by State Department and Environmental Protection Agency negotiators. Hodel supports the idea of an international protocol on ozone, but maintains State and EPA negotiators are overeager: "They seem determined to enter into any agreement whether or not it does any good,' says Hodel. He believes State or EPA bureaucrats may have leaked the false quote in an attempt to embarrass him.