[Dialogue] EPA Chief Under Fire for Ignoring Scientists

[Harry Wainwright]

Published on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 by One World.net
<http://us.oneworld.net/>  

EPA Chief Under Fire for Ignoring Scientists

by Aaron Glantz

SAN FRANCISCO - The vast majority of scientists and other specialists at the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have withdrawn from a key
labor-management partnership, citing rising distrust of the agency's chief
Stephen Johnson.
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In a letter to Administrator Johnson, trade unions representing the workers
complain that Johnson retaliates against whistle-blowers and union officers,
"abuses our good nature and trust," and ignores the agency's Principles of
Scientific Integrity.

Johnson has faced mounting criticism from within his own agency and a
Congressional investigatory panel for allegedly ignoring scientific findings
when they have contradicted the Bush administration's political aims.

The letter, which is signed by 19 union presidents representing 10,000 EPA
employees across the country, is the latest fallout from Johnson's December
decision to block California and at least 16 other states from implementing
tough new restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions on cars and trucks.

"Whatever reservoir of good will and credibility that Stephen Johnson had as
a career employee is fast evaporating," said Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility Executive Director Jeff Ruch in a statement.
"On a host of critical issues, the nation is looking for EPA to lead, but
Johnson cannot be an effective leader from inside a bunker."

In an interview with OneWorld, EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar said Johnson
has no regrets about preventing California's greenhouse gas regulations and
has great respect for the agency's workers.

"Certainly he's recognized that climate change is a serious global problem
and needs a national solution," Shradar said, arguing California and 16
other states cannot impose pollution controls different from federal law
because those states are not suffering uniquely from global warming. "It's a
national and global problem that needs to be addressed at the federal
level."

The California law would have imposed stronger greenhouse gas restrictions
than the federal government has so far imposed. The 16 other states were
considering similarly stringent measures, which environmental campaigners
welcome and automakers largely oppose.

Responding to the unions' complaint directly, Shradar said: "As a 27-year
career EPA scientist, the administrator values the expertise and advice of
his staff and will do so through his time in leadership."

But internal agency documents obtained and released last week by Senator
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) showed Johnson overrode California's regulations
despite the objections of his own scientists.

"It is obvious to me that there is no legal or technical justification for
denying this," reads an email memo released by Boxer's office, which was
prepared by EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality and appeared to
address Johnson directly in its analysis.

"I think there must be a win-win here, and you should find it and seize
it.for the sake of the environment and the integrity of the agency," adds
the email's sender, whose name has been redacted.

"You have to find a way to get this done," the document concludes. "If you
cannot, you will face a pretty big personal decision about whether you are
able to stay in the job under those circumstances. This is a choice only you
can make, but I ask you to think about the history and the future of the
agency in making it. If you are asked to deny this waiver, I fear the
credibility of the agency that we both love will be irreparably damaged."

Other documents show EPA staffers made the case that California's global
warming problems are "compelling and extraordinary," and include the loss of
coastline due to rising sea levels, diminishing water supplies through
reduced snowpacks, wildfires, air pollution, insect infestations, and ozone
problems.

"These documents paint a picture of an Environmental Protection Agency in
crisis," Boxer told reporters when she released the documents. "They show
the dedicated professional staff of the EPA working hard to do what they are
paid to do by the American people - protect our health and our environment.
At the same time, we see more and more evidence of Administrator Johnson
ignoring the science and the facts, and discarding the advice of his
professional staff."

The three major presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and
Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have all said they would let
California's greenhouse gas restrictions go into effect if elected, meaning
Johnson's decision to block the states' regulations will likely expire at
the end of the Bush administration in January 2009.

C 2008 One World

Article printed from www.CommonDreams.org 

URL to article: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/05/7485/

 

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