NYT: EPA Chief Rejects Recommendations on Lethal Particles of Soot

[DeepModem Mom]

E.P.A. Chief Rejects Recommendations on Soot
By FELICITY BARRINGER
Published: September 22, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 — The Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator on Thursday rejected the recommendations of his staff — and an unusual public plea from independent science advisers — choosing instead to tighten only one of two standards regulating the amount of lethal particles of soot in the air.

The short-term daily standard, intended to control acute exposure to the minute particles, was cut nearly in half. But the annual standard, which affects chronic exposure, remains at its original 1997 level.

A large volume of research has implicated the soot particles — which are less than one-thirtieth the diameter of a human hair and can penetrate deep into the lungs and the circulatory system — in tens of thousands of deaths annually from both respiratory and coronary disease. Scientists say they are among the deadliest contaminants to which the public is regularly exposed and for which the E.P.A. sets exposure levels.

Stephen L. Johnson, a career scientist at the agency and the third administrator appointed during President Bush’s six years in office, said in a conference call Thursday that the annual standard would remain at its current level while research continued. No change was made now, Mr. Johnson said, “due to insufficient evidence’’ linking health problems to long-term exposure....

***

In a rare display of solidarity, all but 2 of the 22 members of the agency’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Council had urged that the long-term standard be lowered to a range of 12 to 14 micrograms per cubic meter, from 15....


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/22/us/22soot.html?hp&ex=1158984000&en=f6e429a4cf73e761&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[OneBlueSky]

1. BushCo is on a "Kill the Earth" binge to go along with their . . .

"Kill the Terrorists" binge . . .

killing is the only thing they know how to do -- and they're really, really good at it . . .

[gratuitous]

2. Another "extraordinary" response from a Bush official

The only thing "extraordinary" anymore about Bush administration corruption is the media's constant surprise at the "extraordinariness" of their standard operating procedures. If a rule change is something they don't like, they'll drag their feet slower than a six-year-old who doesn't want to go to bed. If it's something they do like, they'll even break the law to do what they want.

Yet every time it predictably happens, the media (whether it's the Times or the networks or any of the other major players) are constantly surprised by these "extraordinary" or "unusual" actions.

[VegasWolf]

3. The Bush political appointee rejects advice from scientists. Gee, what's

new. This new Bush America with its "Political Officers" smacks of the old Russia.