White House role alleged in California climate case

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency had favored giving California at least a partial go-ahead for tough greenhouse gas restrictions for vehicles before changing his mind and blocking the rules after talking to the White House, a House committee said on May 20. In a report, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform said the Bush administration was refusing to hand over 32 documents involving communications between the White House and EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, and that one aide to Johnson had been ordered not to answer questions from committee staff about any communications. "Before communicating with White House officials, Administrator Johnson supported the position of career EPA staff that the waiver should be granted," the committee said in its report. "He reversed himself only after these communications." "It appears that the White House played a significant role in the reversal of the EPA decision," said committee chairman Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA). Waxman is investigating whether EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson's refusal to let California implement a tailpipe law was based on politics rather than science and law. Johnson repeatedly has denied that he was swayed by pressure from the White House or the auto industry, which has fought the state's efforts to enact tougher emission standards. He has declined to discuss his conversations with President Bush about the issue. Waxman said a review of more than 27,000 pages of records and interviews with eight EPA officials found that the agency's staff members supported California's effort, which would require a waiver from the EPA. In one meeting attended by more than 20 staff members, no one thought California's request should be denied, five of the participants told congressional investigators. The most explosive new evidence in the report came from a deposition by Jason K. Burnett, deputy associate administrator at the agency. Under oath, Burnett told committee investigators that Johnson "was very interested in a full grant of the waiver" in August and September of last year and later thought a partial grant–allowing the waiver for the first two or three model years–"was the best course of action." Johnson's position changed after he communicated with the White House, Burnett said. California has the right to enact tougher air pollution laws under the Clean Air Act but must secure a waiver from the EPA. Johnson denied California's request in December. When asked whether the administrator communicated with the White House in between his preference to do a partial grant and the ultimate decision, Burnett said, "I believe the answer is yes." Waxman has subpoenaed the EPA for documents on communications between the agency and the White House, but the agency has declined to turn them over.