EPA Director Called Before Senate
By Simona Perry, t r u t h o u t
Under sworn testimony at a Senate hearing today, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen L. Johnson repeatedly said he stood by his decision to deny California a waiver under the Clean Air Act. Yet, he refused to offer specific technical information that led to his decision or answer questions surrounding the timing of his decision and speculation about White House pressure to deny the waiver.
If granted, the waiver would have allowed California and other states to enforce more stringent auto emission standards and curb greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, in a shorter time frame than under current federal law.
Meanwhile, a letter signed by EPA union officers, representing thousands of EPA employees, was being sent to Administrator Johnson expressing concern that “a large part of the American public believes the White House motivated your recent decision,” and the decision to deny California’s waiver overruled a reportedly unanimous recommendation of the agency’s legal and technical staff. “We call on you to explain why you chose the option you did and, of utmost importance, we ask that you explain why you rejected the options recommended by your technical and legal staffs.”