White House weakened EPA soot proposal, documents show

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

The White House recently modified an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to limit soot emissions, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post, inviting public comment on a slightly weaker standard than the agency had originally sought.

The behind-the-scenes tweaking of the proposed soot standards, which affect particles measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, sparked criticism that the White House was interfering with science-based decisions.

Fine particles, which come from oil refineries, factories and other operations, rank among the most deadly widespread air pollutants. EPA had originally wanted to tighten the annual exposure to fine-particle soot from 15 micrograms per cubic meter of air to 12 micrograms per cubic meter, according to an e-mail between Office of Management and Budget and EPA officials.

But OMB directed the EPA to make the limit between 12 and 13 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-weakened-epa-soot-proposal-documents-show/2012/07/17/gJQANH3yrW_story.html

[limpyhobbler]

1. typical nt.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. Who would have thought?

[Wilms]

3. “If this had been a Bush administration move, every progressive in America would be screaming foul"

Frank O’Donnell, who heads the advocacy group Clean Air Watch, cited the change as “the latest in a pattern of interference by the White House in decisions that rightly belong to EPA, based on science.” Last year President Obama pulled an EPA proposal to impose stricter limits on smog-forming ozone on the grounds that it would be costly and the rules were up for review again starting in 2013.

“If this had been a Bush administration move, every progressive in America would be screaming foul,” O’Donnell added.

[intheflow]

4. Absolutely!

[progressoid]

6. Some of us scream foul, but then are told by much more knowledgeable DUers that we just don't

understand the nuances of governance. Or that the administration is playing super mega 7 dimensional chess. Or we didn't get our pony. Or that he has a 99.628% approval rating among liberal so....

etc.

[woo me with science]

8. We are admonished every day to believe that War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength,

the chocolate ration has been increased, ...and we still have representation.

The denial has to stop.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=146626

[Hell Hath No Fury]

14. Damn straight.

Some of us continue to scream bloody murder, regardless of the letter after the name -- I'm no hypocrite.

[hay rick]

5. Surprise (cough), surprise (cough, cough), surprise (cough,cough, cough)...

cough, cough, cough, cough, cough.

[woo me with science]

7. Every day. Every damned day there is a new one.

The denial has to stop.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=146626

[emilyg]

9. We're too busy focusing

on Bain. Shame.

[PSPS]

10. Well, maybe Obama will turn into a democrat in his second term.

[bonniebgood]

13. I Doubt it PSPS

There's more: Both parties work for the same corporate masters.. Our President is still appointing repigs to major position in Government.

http://www.postalreporternews.net/2011/12/03/president-obama-names-republican-tony-hammond-to-postal-regulatory-commission/

George W. "i was powerful" Bush appointments were ALL repigs.

http://www.savethepostoffice.com/sites/default/files/Board%20of%20Governors%20Brief%20Background.pdf
The two top pigs of the Post office Board also sits on the CCA, private prisons Board. Stock $30.29.

If links don't work, take a peak at: www.savethepostoffice.com to see how the post office
and all those union jobs, people lives, veterans jobs, and the Constitution are being destroyed
for NO reason, has NOTHING to do with the budget or deficit.

Ed and Rachel are smart, i have emailed them, they won't even mention the Postal Service "Board of REPIG Governors" thats destroying, the fabric of our Country, our Government from within to benefit the 1%.
The NALC ( National Association of Letters Carriers) begged Obama not to appoint the repig, he did
not listen.
I believe all this Romney Drama is planned to keep the drones fighting each other, a ruse to appoint JEB at their convention. It's all a scam folks, Both parties work for the same corporate masters.
My vote doesn't count where i live. If I lived in a swing State, yes I would be voting for Obama. Since I dont, I don't have to. But I WILL Vote.

[dipsydoodle]

11. K & R

.

[Festivito]

12. Article links to itself??? BESIDES the OMB is the ONLY WAY to cost it.

The article does not point to where it claims to point:

according to documents obtained by The Washington Post

Does not point to documents, instead points back to the same document being read!

lightly weaker standard than the agency had originally sought.

Points back to the same article being read again!

BESIDES, isn't the EPA under some restriction to NOT use cost of implementing, therefore having to defer that portion of its work to the OMB, Office of Management and Budget?

Rather than being "behind-the-scenes" it seems even more open.

I'd prefer that the EPA incorporate cost into its decision and report it, but, some bonehead in Congress passed a strange rule. Wonder which publicans, er, ah, party did that.