Democrats Slam EPA Chief for Bush Environmental Policies

By J.R. Pegg

WASHINGTON, DC, March 11, 2004 (ENS) - Under the guiding hand of the Bush administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is "increasing the velocity of environmental progress and doing it in a better way," EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday. But Democrats had little time for Leavitt's rhetoric and took him to task for an administration they say is intent on rolling back federal environmental laws.

When it comes to addressing the nation's pressing environmental issues, the Bush administration "is writing a new textbook on foot dragging," said Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat.

Wyden said he supported Leavitt's confirmation last year because of his record as a consensus builder during his 12 years as governor of Utah.

"I have seen none of that during your early service at EPA," Wyden told Leavitt. "Sometimes you wonder around here if you ought to be able to take a vote back ... I am very disappointed."

Leavitt testified at the hearing to promote the administration's 2005 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - it was his first appearance in front of the committee since it confirmed his nomination last October.

Leavitt received little support for the administration's $7.76 billion budget request for the EPA, which is some seven percent below enacted 2004 levels.

EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt says the administration will pursue enforcement actions brought against power plants by the Clinton administration for violations of the Clean Air Act. (Photo courtesy EPA)

In addition, it slashes water infrastructure funding by more than $300 million and cuts funding for the EPA's clean air, and science programs by some $100 million.

Senator Jim Jefffords, a Vermont Independent and the ranking member on the committee, called the budget request "flat and lifeless."

"It fails to recognize the tremendous environmental and public health challenges we face," said Jeffords, who noted that the Senate budget proposal currently on the floor restores many of the budget cuts the administration had requested.

Senator Kit Bond, a Missouri Republican, told Leavitt the requested cuts to state clean water grants would not be upheld.

"I can assure you that we are going to do everything we can to restore it," Bond said. "If there is one thing we ought to be doing it is achieving the clean water and safe drinking water goals.

Leavitt said the budget request provides the agency the necessary funding to carry out its mission and he focused his comments on how the agency is getting ready to make "the next great leap forward in environmental progress."

Integral to this, Leavitt said, are new proposals to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and mercury from the nation's power plants.

The cap and trade proposals are in essence the administration's "Clear Skies" air pollution plan, which has failed to gather support in Congress.

Legislative action is the administration's preference, Leavitt said. But it is time to act, Leavitt added, and the proposed rules will lead the nation into its "most productive period of air quality improvement."

Democrats slammed the proposals - in particular the cap and trade plan for mercury emissions - as far too lax.

"We are not requiring cuts deep enough and fast enough," said Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a New York Democrat. "Trading [of mercury emissions] will lead to dangerous hot spots … it is going to employ a lot of lawyers but will do nothing to clean the air."

Coal fired power plants like this one in Ohio are the largest emitters of mercury. (Photo courtesy Ohio EPA)

"It looks like powerful industry can essentially hotwire the regulatory process," Wyden said. "It is a dangerous practice to enact an industry wish list into law."

Leavitt defended the rule and said he did not know how the industry language made it into the final proposal.

"I do not know how that happened," said Leavitt, who added that it is the "policy that is important."

"I am very proud of the fact that for the very first time we are going to reduce mercury emissions from power plants," Leavitt said. "It is a dangerous neurotoxin that needs to be reduced."

Republicans on the committee cautioned that the proposals may go too far and could force electric generators to opt for natural gas instead of coal.

"We are seeing the disastrous impact of the forced switching from coal to natural gas," Bond said. "People on low and modest incomes are finding natural gas heating bills going through the roof."

Ohio Republican Senator George Voinovich echoed those sentiments.

"The natural gas crisis … would not have occurred if the environmental policies of this country had been harmonized with our economic needs," Voinovich said.

Leavitt told the committee the administration's proposals will "clean the air and during that time it will put downward pressure on natural gas prices."

Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, took aim at the EPA's December 2003 rule for mercury from chlorine plants. The regulation, which has been challenged in federal court by environmentalists, does nothing to address the 65 tons of mercury emissions for which neither the industry nor the EPA is able to account.

"There really is no regulation here," said the California Democrat, who criticized the EPA for taking a "cavalier attitude" toward not being able to address an amount of mercury some 15 tons greater than what power plants emit every year.

"What is not unclear is our focus on reducing mercury emissions," Leavitt responded.