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Friday, June 15, 2007

White House Listens as Industry Calls for Weak Ozone Standard

OMB Watch and Clean Air Watch have been carefully watching as the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviews EPA's rule to revise the national standard for ozone, a.k.a. smog. OIRA already entertained industry reps on two occasions (read more on that here).

The press is starting to pay attention to this issue. Articles in Greenwire (subscription) and The Hill discuss the importance of a tighter standard and the scientific basis behind it. The articles also chronicle industry's efforts to block EPA from developing a more protective standard.

The ozone standard is the first big regulation OIRA is reviewing with its new administrator, Susan Dudley. President Bush recess appointed Dudley in April. Before that, OMB Watch adamantly opposed Dudley's nomination. One of our primary concerns was the undue access she would give to industry during the regulatory review process. It seems those concerns are now manifesting.

I have tried to contact both OIRA and EPA to talk about this issue. Despite my pleasant phone manners and polite emails, my queries have gone unrecognized. Perhaps the American Automobile Alliance is higher up in their inbox.