EPA pressed on contacts in greenhouse gas waiver

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Apr 10, 2008 | by Erica Werner

WASHINGTON -- A House committee chairman issued a subpoena Wednesday seeking records of contacts between the White House and Environmental Protection Agency officials concerning California's tailpipe emissions law.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, said he has found evidence that officials from the White House and the agency met before the EPA decided to block the state law. He did not disclose the evidence.

"Unfortunately, EPA has refused to disclose the substance and extent of its communications with the White House," Waxman said. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee "must have these documents in order to understand how the agency's decision was made."

The agency's chief, Stephen L. Johnson, has said it was his decision alone in December to turn down California's request for a waiver that would have allowed the emissions law to take effect. Johnson has refused to tell lawmakers whether the White House sought to influence the decision. Democrats have alleged it was based on politics, not science.

At a recent Senate hearing, Johnson was confronted with records showing he had a "principals meeting" at the White House last May after a briefing on the waiver issue. Johnson said he could not remember what the meeting was about.

At least 16 other states were also blocked from putting in place the greenhouse gas emissions reductions sought by California when the EPA denied the waiver. Johnson said California had not made the case to get the waiver because global warming is not unique to the state and a new federal fuel efficiency law was a better way to go anyway.

California's law, which the auto industry opposed, would have forced automakers to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016. The Bush administration has opposed any mandatory caps on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Waxman last month accused the EPA of withholding hundreds of communications with the White House and Justice Department over the matter despite his requests. He has issued subpoenas for other documents from the EPA, including internal agency papers showing career employees recommended against denying the waiver. He had been negotiating for the White House papers until Wednesday.