Clean Air Watch - Articles

Find the polluters in your city

2011-03-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Find the polluters in your city EPA data lets you find local sources of toxic emissions By David Fleshler and Dana Williams, Sun Sentinel March 29, 2011 Industrial discharges of benzene, styrene, hydrochloric acid and other pollutants fell 60 percent in Broward County and 74 percent in Palm Beach County in 2009 from 2006, according to an analysis by the Sun Sentinel of four years of reports

Public radio's Living on Earth profiles Duke chief Jim Rogers

2011-03-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.loe.org/shows/shows.html?programID=11-P13-00011

Waxman offers compromises to win committee votes

2009-05-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Waxman Said to Offer Free Permits in Climate Talks By Jim Efstathiou Jr., Daniel Whitten and Lorraine WoellertMay 7 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Representative Henry Waxman, sponsor of a plan to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, is offering power producers and companies such as steelmakers free pollution permits, said people familiar with the negotiations. Waxman, the Democratic chairman of the House Energy

Global warming battle heats up

2008-08-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

From The Washington IndependentFour Democratic senators demanded late last month that the head of the Environmental Protection Agency must go. Their call for EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson's resignation -- after eight months of looking into his actions as agency chief -- is largely due to Jason K. Burnett, Johnson's former deputy in developing global warming policy.Since resigning in May as

Great Falls (Montana) paper details special Baucus deal in Lieberman-Warner climate bill

2007-11-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON — Montana's rural electric cooperatives could get a break from a nationwide crackdown on greenhouse gas emissions for more than two decades, thanks to U.S. Sen. Max Baucus.Montana's senior senator inserted a provision into a climate change bill pending in Congress that would give the rural electric co-ops in his state until 2035 to fully curtail their greenhouse gas emissions. The bill

EPA Joins Settlement of Lawsuit but Adds a Waiver

2007-10-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

[from the Washington Post]Although the Environmental Protection Agency joined in a legal settlement this week to force the largest power-plant pollution cleanup in U.S. history, the Bush administration signaled in the agreement that it has no intention of taking enforcement actions against the utility for the same kind of Clean Air Act violations in the future.The language of the settlement

Coal Fuels A Debate Over Obama

2007-06-24T05:12:00.000-07:00

from today's Washington PostDemocrat Stuck Between Industry and EnvironmentBy Alec MacGillis and Steven MufsonWashington Post Staff WritersSunday, June 24, 2007; Page A01BENTON, Ill. -- In 2004, as a state legislator running for the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama came to this small town 300 miles from Chicago to pledge support for southern Illinois' struggling coal country.More than just an obligatory

Boucher blows hot air -- an editorial from the Roanoke Times

2007-06-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Boucher blows hot airHis reasons for blocking California emissions standards just don't make any sense.Rep. John Dingell's role in pushing a bill to limit the ability of California and other states to cap greenhouse gas emissions from cars is easy enough to figure out.Dingell represents Detroit, after all, and carmakers are big donors.But why is Southwest Virginia's Rep. Rick Boucher joining

Lead -- or let states lead the way on global warming

2007-06-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

from the Eugene (OR) Register-Guard:http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/06/07/ed.edit.emissions.phn.0607.p1.php?section=opinionLead - or let statesA Register-Guard EditorialPublished: Thursday, June 7, 2007If neither Congress nor the Bush administration are willing to enact strict regulation of tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases, they should step aside and let California, Oregon and 10

Advertising Age magazine looks at green-scam GE advertising on locomotives

2007-04-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

http://adage.com/article?article_id=116419Going Green? Plant Deep RootsInconvenient Truth: Marketers' Environmental Claims Need Substance or It's Little More Than FertilizerBy Mya Frazier Published: April 30, 2007COLUMBUS, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- The greening of business is a good thing: It improves the chance of bequeathing an inhabitable world to future generations; provides myriad revenue

EPA reports increase in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions

2007-04-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

Darren Samuelsohn, E&ENews PM senior reporterA strong economy and an unusually warm summer drove a 0.8 percent increase in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, U.S. EPA reported today.Domestic emissions of the six primary greenhouse gases in 2005 were equal to 7.26 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. That is an increase from the 7.2 billion metric tons EPA reported a year ago for 2004 (

Courts deal setbacks to Bush environmental policies

2007-04-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

Courts Deal Setbacks To Bush Environmental PoliciesBy JEFF NESMITHCox News Service--Friday, April 06, 2007WASHINGTON — Lawyers who have the job of defending President Bush's environmental policies have had it rough this year.The Supreme Court's ruling Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency must consider regulating greenhouse gases in automobile exhaust was one of a series of recent

EPA cuts new deal for power industry

2007-03-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized rules directing 20 U.S. states to slash levels of tiny particles spewed by power plants, cars and other sources by 2010. About 88 million people in more than 200 U.S. counties -- mostly clustered around big cities like Los Angeles and New York -- live where "particulate" levels exceed legal limits

Coal versus the polar bear

2007-03-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/washington/entries/2007/03/27/coal_interests.htmlCoal Interests Fight Polar Bear ActionBy Jeff Nesmith Tuesday, March 27, 2007An organization representing companies that mine coal and burn it to make electricity has called on its members to fight the proposed listing of the polar bear as an endangered or threatened species.“This will

American Electric Power: We're Gonna Fight Global Warming Limits

2007-03-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

Effort to cut emissions premature, AEP saysCongress plans bill to combat global warmingWednesday, March 21, 2007 By Jack TorryTHE COLUMBUS DISPATCHWASHINGTON -- The leader of American Electric Power yesterday warned that congressional efforts to force U.S. industry to reduce greenhouse gases before the technology is available will accomplish "very little short of a nice little sound bite."

Small engine rule moves to OMB

2007-03-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

(from today's Greenwire):New regulations targeting air emissions from lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other small engines are undergoing review at the White House Office of Management and Budget, with expected final action set for November, according to information sent to the White House by U.S. EPA.In its filing, EPA provides some of the most detailed information to date on how it plans to

Coal companies globally warm Democrat Boucher's bank balance

2007-03-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

CORPORATE CRIME REPORTERCoal Companies Globally Warm Democrat Boucher’s Bank Balance21 Corporate Crime Reporter 12, March 12, 2007The global warmth of cold hard cash.The so-called reform-minded Democrats.The flow of dirty money from the coal industry to House Democrats – just as they are about to craft legislation to “address” global warming.Address the ball, Rick Boucher.Rick Boucher (D-Virginia

As It Polishes Green Image, GE Fights EPA

2007-02-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

The Wall St. JournalBy JOHN J. FIALKA and KATHRYN KRANHOLDFebruary 13, 2007; Page A2General Electric Co., which is running a marketing campaign promoting itself as environmentally friendly, has pushed to weaken smog controls for railroad locomotives in rules about to be proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.The rules, which could take effect between 2011 and 2017, are designed to cut

Christie Whitman: EPA's Steve Johnson has no juice

2007-02-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

CQ TODAY – ENVIRONMENTFeb. 2, 2007 – 7:17 p.m.EPA’s Chief in the Crosshairs of Three Committees Examining Agency’s RecordBy Manu Raju, CQ StaffEPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson will be in the hot seat for the first time Tuesday before a hostile Democratic Congress critical of his agency’s record over the past six years.After facing little congressional scrutiny from a Republican-controlled

Green Gripe with Obama

2007-01-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still . . . Coal.By Elizabeth WilliamsonWashington Post Staff WriterJanuary 10, 2007Who, but who, would soil the environmental reputation of Barack Obama?The Democratic senator from Illinois gets stellar marks from greens. Just a few months ago he was calling global warming "real," saying: "It is here. . . . We couldn't just keep burning fossil fuels

Clean air champion bows out

2007-01-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

Richard Long has fought pollution, polluters for over a decade at the EPABy Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain NewsJanuary 3, 2007After a rough-and-tumble decade in perhaps the toughest environmental policy job in the Rocky Mountain West, the EPA's Richard Long is punching out.The head of air programs for more than a decade at the Environmental Protection Agency's regional office in Denver, Long has

EPA creates new loophole for toxic polluters

2006-12-23T06:14:00.000-08:00

AIR POLLUTION: Sen. Boxer 'dismayed' by EPA rule change on major sourcesDaniel Cusick, Greenwire reporterThe incoming chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said she is "dismayed" by the Bush administration's decision to revise air toxics standards for "major source" polluters and pledged to subject U.S. EPA's proposal to tough questioning when the new Congress convenes

"Smokey Joe" Barton to protect oil industry from global warming controls

2006-12-04T14:47:00.000-08:00

[above: Joe Barton and intern] CLIMATE: Rep. Barton vows to fight global warming legislationDarren Samuelsohn, E&ENews PM senior reporterRep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said today he intends to block Democrats from passing a mandatory federal cap on heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions."I will be an active part of any leadership effort to prevent it passing in the House," the outgoing chairman of the

The Other Climate Disaster

2006-11-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Other Climate DisasterFrank O'DonnellNovember 30, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.Thanks to yesterday’s arguments at the Supreme Court, there’s been a great deal of media scrutiny this week of the Bush administration’s industry-friendly approach

Republicans duke it out for key environmental slot

2006-11-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

ReutersNov 17, 2006 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Virginia Sen. John Warner on Friday said he wants to be the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment Committee, setting the stage for a showdown with the current chairman for top status on the panel that next year could weigh mandatory caps on carbon dioxide.Environmental groups say Warner's bid to be the ranking Republican member could raise the

Bush administration flip-flopped on key pollution case

2006-10-30T05:48:00.000-08:00

Bush administration switched positions on Duke Energy caseWritten by PETE YOSTMonday, 30 October 2006WASHINGTON (AP) _ When the Bush administration lost an important air pollution case before an appeals court last year, it did an interesting about-face and sided with the electric power company that won.Unfortunately for the administration, environmental groups persuaded the Supreme Court to take

A new twist on an old Nazi idea

2006-10-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

Is pressurized coal the solution?By MICHAEL STOTHARD UPI Energy CorrespondentWASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Montana Gov. Schweitzer says pressurized coal is the key to weaning America off its 4 billion barrel a year dependence on oil suppliers such as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, which many perceive as unreliable."You can make fuel from coal rather than import it from dictators," he said. "

How green is your vote?

2006-10-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

How Green Is Your Vote?Frank O'DonnellOctober 19, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.There was an almost surreal quality to what the Environmental Protection Agency billed as a “media event” on October 10 in southeastern Indiana. The event heralded the

Cleaner diesel about to become road reality

2006-10-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

MSNBC: It's the biggest fuel shift since unleaded gas, EPA and activists agreeWASHINGTON - The switch to new ultra-clean diesel fuel is going smoothly and supplies should be readily available at pumps when the rules take effect on Sunday, U.S. officials said Tuesday. That will mean less pollution, fewer health issues and possibly the start of a renaissance for diesel cars in the United States.In

Stronger soot limit would mean more benefits

2006-10-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

AIR POLLUTION: Benefits greater with stronger soot limit -- EPA analysisDarren Samuelsohn, E&ENews PM senior reporterCiting the expert opinions of a dozen scientists, the U.S. EPA today said its new standards for microscopic soot pollution will help avert between 1,200 and 13,000 premature deaths per year. But those same scientists also found even more lives could have been saved -- between 2,200

The Stench from Texas

2006-10-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/10/05/the_stench_from_texas.phpThe Stench From TexasFrank O'DonnellOctober 05, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.It’s like an old-time Texas shootout. Think of the Texas Rangers in a firefight with cattle rustlers.

A few of the many stories on EPA's bad soot decision

2006-09-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

New York TimesTop E.P.A. Official Rejects Recommendations on SootBy FELICITY BARRINGER 22 September 2006The New York TimesWASHINGTON, 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

California Clears the Air

2006-09-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

from www.tompaine.comFrank O'DonnellSeptember 07, 2006It was a shot heard around the world. And, like the original volley at the 1775 battle of Lexington Green, this new blast signifies the start of a grassroots rebellion—in this case, an historic uprising against global warming and its human causes.I am referring, of course, to the landmark action by the state of California to curb global

Don't bet your lungs on this

2006-09-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

from www.tompaine.comFrank O'DonnellAugust 24, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.When President Bush named Stephen Johnson to head the Environmental Protection Agency, the President pledged that as the “first professional scientist to lead the EPA,”

EPA moves to weaken power plant standards

2006-08-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

AIR POLLUTION: EPA moves toward NSR emissions test changes – Aug. 22, 2006Daniel Cusick, Greenwire Southeast reporterCoal-fired utilities that have sparred with U.S. EPA over air emissions generated by power plant upgrades may get a reprieve from the agency under a new rulemaking formally proposed last week.In an Aug. 18

Oklahoma paper denounces Senators Inhofe, DeMint for "stupidity"

2006-08-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

Claremore (Oklahoma) Daily ProgressPublished August 08, 2006 01:58 pm -Perils of stupidityIt’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity.This summer’s intense heat wave, which has already killed hundreds nationwide, has also contributed to a blanket of smog across the country, raising concerns of thicker air pollution and related illnesses, especially the millions suffering from respiratory

Attention to Locomotives' Emissions Renewed

2006-08-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

By Juliet EilperinWashington Post Staff WriterMonday, August 14, 2006; Page A06For years, government scientists who measure air pollution assumed that diesel locomotive engines were relatively clean and emitted far less health-threatening emissions than diesel trucks or other vehicles.But not long ago, those scientists made a startling discovery: Because they had used faulty estimates of the

EPA examines deadly diesel train pollution

2006-08-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Attention to Locomotives' Emissions RenewedBy Juliet EilperinWashington Post Staff WriterMonday, August 14, 2006; Page A06For years, government scientists who measure air pollution assumed that diesel locomotive engines were relatively clean and emitted far less health-threatening emissions than diesel trucks or other vehicles.But not long ago, those scientists made a startling discovery: Because

Environmetal Delinquency

2006-08-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Frank O'DonnellAugust 10, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a 501(c)3 nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.A federal judge sounded more like a tough-talking truant officer when he dressed down the Environmental Protection Agency last week for failing to enforce the Clean Air Act."EPA has

Would we name Jack Abramoff head of the White House ethics office?

2006-08-10T03:56:00.000-07:00

NewStandard NewsFree Market Champion Tapped to Head Regulatory Officeby Megan TadyAug. 8 – Environmentalists and government watchdogs are condemning the president's nomination to head an "obscure but powerful" regulatory office, saying Bush's pick would prioritize corporate interests over protecting the public.Last week, the Bush administration nominated Susan Dudley to direct the Office of

The Return of Nazi Oil

2006-07-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Return Of Nazi OilFrank O'DonnellJuly 19, 2006Once upon a time, Hitler’s Nazis found themselves in a jam: how to fight a world war with meager oil reserves— especially after the debacle of the Russian Front and the loss of those former Soviet oil fields? The answer was to convert German coal into liquid fuel for the Luftwaffe and those Panzer tanks. (No, this plot line is not courtesy of Mel

Potential OMB nominee has Koch ties

2006-07-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Wichita Eagle, July 14, 2006WASHINGTON - Environmental groups are trying to derail a potential nomination to a top job overseeing clean air and water rules, in part because the nominee works for a think tank supported by Wichita's Koch Industries.Their target is Susan Dudley, whom President Bush might nominate to lead the regulatory office within the White House Office of Management and Budget.

The Supreme Court and Global Warming

2006-07-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

from TomPaine.comCarbon On The DocketFrank O'DonnellJuly 06, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch , a 501(c)3 nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.When I heard about the Supreme Court decision to review a lower court ruling on federal jurisdiction over greenhouse gases, the first thing I

Anti-regulatory zealot moves closer to job as Bush regulatory Czarina

2006-06-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

OMB: White House moving closer to filling office's regulatory post, sources sayLauren Morello, Greenwire reporterThe Bush administration appears to be zeroing in on a nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget's regulatory oversight arm, according to sources who track regulatory reform issues.The sources pointed to Susan Dudley, director of the regulatory studies program at George Mason

The Hill newspaper, Atlanta Journal Constitution on clean fuel issue

2006-06-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/TheExecutive/062206_fuel.htmlTHE HILL NEWSPAPER -- June 22, 2006Report: Boutique fuels do not raise gas prices By Jim SnyderA draft Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report contradicts President Bush’s suggestion that boutique fuels, designed to cut pollution from cars and trucks, have contributed to higher gasoline prices.While they could

State clean fuels are effective against smog

2006-06-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

US state boutique fuel rules effective-draft reportBy Chris BaltimoreWASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - A draft report by federal and state officials says that so-called boutique gasoline requirements have created "significant, cost-effective air quality improvements" even though the Bush administration wants to cut the number of specialized fuel blends.With gasoline prices nearing $3 a gallon in

Oil Daily on House oil legislation fights

2006-06-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

Boutique Fuels Bill Takes Center Stage5 June 2006The Oil DailyUS refining capacity and boutique fuels will be the focus of intense debate among members of the House of Representatives this week when Congress gets back from a week-long Memorial Day recess.The full House is slated to vote again -- likely Friday -- on legislation to increase US refining capacity. The refining bill, taken under

Denver Post on EPA's bad particle soot plan

2006-06-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

denver & the westDust-up over EPA proposal DENVER POST June 7, 2006The agency wants to end its regulations for controlling coarse-particle dust in small towns, farms and mines, but state environmental officials oppose the idea.By Dave Curtin Denver Post Staff WriterIn Steamboat Springs, skiers inhaled particles from road sanding until a cleaning program dampened the dust and swept the streets.It

The Big Lie About Refineries

2006-06-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

No New RefineriesFrank O'DonnellJune 06, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch , a 501(c)3 nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.Sterling Burnett, a senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis (and Exxon defender) recently compared Al Gore to Joseph Goebbels for his new film “An

House of Representatives to Square Off on Bad Refinery Bill

2006-06-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

US House to debate refinery incentives, fuels By Chris Baltimore WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives will vote again next week on a bill that would give refiners incentives to expand, House Majority Leader John Boehner said on Friday. The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, is similar to one that squeaked through the House last year on a

New York Times on mercury and states

2006-06-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

The New York TimesEditorialLook to the States for Cleaner AirPublished: June 3, 2006The Bush administration signed off on a weak rule governing mercury emissions from power plants this week, only days after Gov. George Pataki of New York proposed a strong rule. This should come as no surprise. Over the last few years, the states have done a better job of cleaning the air and protecting public

Ending Detroit's Free Ride

2006-05-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Ending Detroit's Free RideFrank O'DonnellMay 18, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch , a 501(c)3 nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.Earlier this week, I found myself driving in a rented Chrysler Sebring along Michigan highways to an Environmental Protection Agency meeting in Ann Arbor.The

More public info needed on emissions: NAFTA study

2006-05-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - A NAFTA environmental watchdog said on Wednesday that federal regulators should give the public more information on harmful smokestack emissions to protect children but industry groups say existing rules are already too cumbersome and should be changed. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation, created through the North American Free Trade Agreement and

Power plant pollution cases settled

2006-04-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Power Plants In 2 States Agree To Cut EmissionsBy Juliet EilperinWashington Post Staff WriterWednesday, April 26, 2006; Page A03The Bush administration has settled two major air-pollution cases in the past two days, forcing power plants in Alabama and North Dakota to spend more than $300 million to reduce tens of thousands of tons of harmful emissions.Under the agreements, two North Dakota

Oil Man in Chief

2006-04-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

Oilman In ChiefFrank O'DonnellApril 26, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch , a 501(c)3 nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.You know President George W. Bush’s ratings are in the toilet when he starts bashing oil companies in the name of protecting what he repeatedly called “our consumers,”

A Greener Way to Cut the Grass Runs Afoul of a Powerful Lobby

2006-04-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

New York TimesA Greener Way to Cut the Grass Runs Afoul of a Powerful Lobby· By FELICITY BARRINGERPublished: April 24, 2006ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Some have automatic transmissions. Drink holders. Electrical outlets. That staple of the American suburb, the lawn mower, now has many features of a late-model car. But not a catalytic converter, a muscular piece of

Air Strike

2006-04-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Air StrikeEPA plan would give political officials more say over air-quality standardsBy Amanda Griscom Little14 Apr 2006Who should decide what level of air pollution is safe -- scientists or political appointees?A counterintuitive answer came from top officials at the U.S. EPA last week. Bill Wehrum and George Gray, EPA's highest-ranking air and science officials, respectively, issued

Global warmers

2006-04-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

Global WarmersFrank O'DonnellApril 06, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a 501 (c) 3 non-partisan, non-profit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.If you wonder why the Congress hasn’t taken decisive action on global warming, you might start by asking Michael G. Morris, chairman, president and CEO of American

EPA Chief Takes Flak for Partisan Political Activity

2006-03-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

Flak hits boss of EPA for local doBy Karen E. Crummy Denver Post Staff WriterMarch 29, 2006The head of the Environmental Protection Agency was the featured guest at an intimate Denver fundraiser attended by representatives of industries regulated by his agency.EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson came to Denver 2 1/2 weeks ago to help raise money for 7th Congressional District candidate Rick

Study Doubles Estimate of Smog Deaths

2006-03-25T06:40:00.000-08:00

Study Doubles Estimate of Smog DeathsUSC researchers amass measurements of lethal particulate matter from hundreds of locations in the L.A. Basin. State may raise its official figures.By Janet Wilson, Times Staff WriterMarch 25, 2006The number of deaths from breathing sooty smog in California may be more than twice as high as previously estimated, based on a recent USC study that examined the

Cough, cough: welcome to New York

2006-03-24T04:47:00.000-08:00

New York Tops in Pollution Cancer RiskRural States Have Lowest Risk, Says EPABy Todd ZwillichWebMD Medical NewsThursday, March 23, 2006March 23, 2006 - Nearly 42 out of every million Americans will develop cancer as a direct cause of pollution spewed by cars and factories, according to projections compiled by the federal government.The data, completed last month, predict that airborne pollutants

EPA: NYC Has Nation's Dirtiest Air

2006-03-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

EPA: NYC Has Country's Dirtiest AirWASHINGTON (AP) - When it comes to dirty, cancer-causing air, New York City is the worst of the worst: the city with the greatest risk, in the state with the dirtiest air, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency.New York is followed by California, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey for the dubious distinction of having the worst air,

NY Times: Cleaner Air Brings Drop in Death Rate

2006-03-21T04:18:00.000-08:00

Cleaner Air Brings Drop in Death RateBy NICHOLAS BAKALARPublished: March 21, 2006When air pollution in a city declines, the city benefits with a directly proportional drop in death rates, a new study has found.For each decrease of 1 microgram of soot per cubic meter of air, death rates from cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness and lung cancer decrease by 3 percent — extending the lives of

A few stories on the National Research Council

2006-03-17T12:01:00.000-08:00

From the Los Angeles TimesChallenge to State's Clean-Air Rules RebuffedAfter reviewing standards that some said threatened thousands of factory jobs, a national research panel sides with the regulators.By Janet WilsonTimes Staff Writer -- March 17, 2006A National Research Council panel on Thursday overwhelmingly endorsed California's tough air pollution regulations, saying the state had served as

Clean Air Watch Denounced by Wheeling, W VA Newspaper

2006-03-04T05:46:00.000-08:00

Wheeling News RegisterMarch 4, 2006Separate Fact From Fiction on ‘Warming’By the News-RegisterRadical environmentalists are extraordinarily upset with President Bush, according to a report in The New York Times. Why? Has the White House announced some new policy that the radicals don’t like? Did Bush give a speech critical of them? No. He met with a novelist and spent an hour discussing the

Jurassic President

2006-02-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/21/jurassic_president.phpJurassic PresidentFrank O'DonnellFebruary 21, 2006Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a 501(c)3 nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.Political writer Fred Barnes’ new book, Rebel-in-Chief, includes a remarkable vignette. Barnes

EPA warns Michigan, other states on need to cut pollution

2006-02-10T04:22:00.000-08:00

Published February 10, 2006[ From the Lansing State Journal ]EPA warns state on pollution reductionGovernment may impose a mandatory cleanup planBy Faith Bremner State Journal correspondentWASHINGTON - The federal government warned Michigan on Thursday that if it doesn't finalize its plan for reducing air pollution that blows from power plants into other states, the Environmental Protection

Small engine update

2006-02-03T10:20:00.000-08:00

EPA misses deadline on small-engine emissions studyERICA WERNERAssociated PressWASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency missed a deadline Thursday for a study on regulating air pollution from lawnmowers and other small engines, raising concerns that emissions standards for the high polluting engines, in California and nationally, could be further delayed.But an EPA spokesman, John Millett

NASCAR to go unleaded

2006-01-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

New York TimesJanuary 20, 2006Nascar Plans to Switch to Unleaded Fuel in '08By VIV BERNSTEINNascar will use unleaded fuel for its racecars and trucks beginning in 2008, making the switch from the high-octane leaded fuel that it has used for decades.Gary Nelson, Nascar's vice president for research and development, said yesterday that the series had been testing a new fuel since the fall and that

Dayton Beach News-Journal on NASCAR

2006-01-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

January 19, 2006Air quality at tracks questionedBy DINAH VOYLES PULVER Staff WriterA clean-air watchdog group this week called on federal officials to test the air at NASCAR races for high levels of lead and said it wants the racing industry to stop using lead in gasoline.In a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Frank O'Donnell, president of the D.C.-based Clean Air Watch, asked

New York Times editorial on particle pollution

2006-01-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

New York TimesIgnoring Science on Clean AirPublished: January 17, 2006Every five years, the Clean Air Act requires the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise federal air quality standards for smog and soot. It is a stressful moment.When Carol Browner, President Bill Clinton's administrator, tightened standards in 1997, industry and its friends in Congress erupted in

Octane Week Outlook for 2006

2006-01-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

January 9, 2006 OCTANE WEEKTHE OUTLOOK FOR 2006 – INDUSTRY INSIDERS, OUTSIDERS SURVEY THE FUTUREFrank O’DonnellPresidentClean Air WatchJust before Christmas, I bumped into a friend who works for the American PetroleumInstitute. (I’ll keep the person’s name a secret. I don’t want to damage someone’s reputationfor fraternizing with a known environmentalist.)The encounter reminded me, as we head

On Abramoff, lobbying and the environment

2006-01-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

E&E Daily – January 10, 2006Uncertain landscape awaits new offshore drilling effortsBen Geman, E&E Daily senior reporterBackers of wider offshore drilling, stymied in 2005, are planning new legislative efforts this year to tap more oil and gas on the outer continental shelf as lawmakers, industry and activists brace for renewed battle on the issue.Supporters of new access will likely argue that

NBC News piece on particle pollution

2005-12-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

(--- ANCHOR INTRO ---) TODAY SCIENTISTS RELEASED THE STRONGEST EVIDENCE YET THAT LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION CAN CAUSE HEART DISEASE -- ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOT EATING RIGHT. THIS, AS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION RELEASES NEW CLEAN AIR GUIDELINES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A DECADE. TRACIE POTTS REPORTS LIVE FROM WASHINGTON.(--- REPORTER LIVE LEAD ---) WE ASSUME THAT IF THE AIR WE BREATHE IS

The Unfriendly Skies

2005-12-20T13:24:00.000-08:00

The Unfriendly SkiesFrank O'DonnellDecember 20, 2005Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a 501 (c) 3 non-partisan, non-profit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.The Bush administration is about to give an early Christmas present to the coal-burning electric power industry—while putting a sooty lump of coal in the

USA Today previews fine particle issue

2005-12-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

EPA to propose standards for particle pollutionBy Traci Watson, USA TODAYDecember 20, 2005Page A-4The Environmental Protection Agency plans to decide today how much pollution in the nation's air is too much, one of the agency's most far-reaching actions in years.The EPA faces a legal deadline of midnight tonight to propose the highest level of soot in the air that is safe for public health. Once

African Americans Face More Severe Pollution Problems

2005-12-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

AP: More Blacks Live With PollutionBy DAVID PACECHICAGO - An Associated Press analysis of a little-known government research project shows that black Americans are 79 percent more likely than whites to live in neighborhoods where industrial pollution is suspected of posing the greatest health danger.Residents in neighborhoods with the highest pollution scores also tend to be poorer, less educated

EPA Raises Concerns about NASCAR

2005-12-09T15:55:00.000-08:00

EPA Raises Concerns About NASCARFederal scientists say leaded fuel may pose a "serious" health risk.By Christopher Dunagan, cdunagan@kitsapsun.comDecember 9, 2005Federal scientists, in a new report about lead pollution, continue to raise health concerns about the use of leaded gasoline at NASCAR-sanctioned races."As was the case with on-road emissions during the time of universal leaded gasoline

States promote better mercury cleanup plan

2005-12-08T04:43:00.000-08:00

Alternative to EPA mercury bill would set tighter limits on emissions 21 November 2005Platts Coal Outlook11Volume 29, Number 47English© 2005 McGraw-Hill, Inc.Two groups representing state and local air-quality regulators proposed an alternative to the Clean Air Mercury Rule last week that would require coal-fired facilities to reduce mercury emissions 80% by 2008, 90%-95% by 2012 and, unlike the

Polluter Playtime

2005-12-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

Polluter PlaytimeFrank O'DonnellDecember 02, 2005Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch, a 501 (c) 3 non-partisan, non-profit organization aimed at educating the public about clean air and the need for an effective Clean Air Act.In a move virtually unnoticed by the press corps, the Bush administration this week quietly dropped a lawsuit against a big electric power company.The suit

AEP, Cinergy seek to evade the law

2005-11-30T04:16:00.000-08:00

MEGAWATT DAILY: AEP, Cinergy seek NSR dismissals in court14 November 2005At least two utilities facing a barrage of alleged Clean Air Act violations are asking federal courts to rule in their favor in the face of proposed changes by the Environmental Protection Agency to ease New Source Review rules for coal-fired generation.American Electric Power and Cinergy filed motions last week asking

The return of refinery legislation?

2005-11-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

Refinery bill may find last hope in Senate Energy CommitteeMary O'Driscoll, E&E Daily senior reporterThe controversial refinery incentive legislation that split Congress along mostly partisan lines last month may find its final hope in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) said yesterday his panel will take up the issue later this year.But observers

Congressional Quarterly on Defeat of Inhofe Refinery Bill

2005-11-02T04:46:00.000-08:00

Chafee Vote Defeats Refinery Legislation in Senate Environment CommitteeJeff Tollefson, CQ Staff26 October 2005CQ Today* Chafee Vote Defeats Refinery Legislation in Senate Environment Committee * By Jeff Tollefson, CQ StaffLegislation intended to spur new refinery projects was blocked by a tie vote in a Senate panel Wednesday, with Republican Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island crossing party lines to

Clean Air Watch's O'Donnell and industry lobbyist Segal parse 'Clear Skies' debate

2005-11-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

Air Pollution: Clean Air Watch's O'Donnell and industry lobbyist Segal parse 'Clear Skies' debateClick here to watch this episode.Darren Samuelsohn: Welcome to OnPoint. I'm Darren Samuelsohn. Joining us today in the E&ETV studios in Washington to talk about air quality issues is Frank O'Donnell, head of the Clean Air Watch, and Scott Segal, an industry attorney from Bracewell and Giuliani.

Delaware News Journal on Carper, Bush Air Plan

2005-10-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

White House emissions plan ripped by CarperBy JEFF MONTGOMERYThe News Journal10/28/2005The Bush administration's environmental chief Thursday defended the White House's proposed "Clear Skies" plan as the "clear choice" to curb power plant emissions, citing a newly released analysis and comparison with competing legislation.Delaware Democratic Sen. Tom Carper -- an author of one alternative --

Air Pollution Increases Stroke Risk

2005-10-28T05:20:00.000-07:00

Air Pollution Raises Stroke RiskMore were admitted to hospital when breathing conditions were bad, study foundBy Ed EdelsonHealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Air pollution increases the risk of ischemic stroke by a small but significant amount, a new study finds.Medicare records on more than 150,000 people hospitalized for stroke in nine U.S. cities found that an increase in

Texas Monthly: Who Is Joe Barton?

2005-10-28T05:14:00.000-07:00

Texas Monthly, November 2005Who is Joe Barton?Is the Republican congressman who passed the new energy bill a partisan hack or a bipartisan compromiser? The answer is about as clear as the skies over his district.JOE BARTON, THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN from Ennis, was 1 of only 11 members of the 435-member U.S. House of Representatives who voted against providing aid to the victims of Hurricane

New fine particle standard might be a dud

2005-10-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

New PM standard might not spur new pollution controlsGreenwire, Oct. 25, 2005Darren Samuelsohn, Greenwire senior reporterThe Bush administration could establish a revised air quality standard next year for ultra-fine soot particles that would not require industry to install new pollution controls, according to a preliminary U.S. EPA analysis.But more pollution controls may be needed if the

Mercury blowing in the wind in South Dakota

2005-10-21T04:42:00.000-07:00

South Dakota Argus LeaderDeal 'opens the door' to wind powerCoal plant could mean economic, pollution benefitsBEN SHOUSEbshouse@argusleader.comArticle Published: 10/21/05A coal-fired power plant in the works near Milbank could spawn new wind farms in South Dakota, a possible source of renewable energy and of millions of dollars in fees for landowners and tax revenue for the state.The power

UNLV "Rebel Yell" on Oil and Environment

2005-10-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

Handling the emerging energy crisisEmily Powers, Staff Writer As President Bush hydroplaned into New Orleans several weeks ago, playing with the newest government toys and riding in the most monstrous of vehicles, he acknowledged that America is experiencing an energy crisis. He announced that Americans could save energy by "driving less."Apparently, carpooling is the best solution that

Columbia (SC) State on refineries

2005-10-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

Posted on Sun, Oct. 16, 2005Lawmaker wants S.C. to consider refineryPetroleum project pitched for coast as nationstruggles with gasoline pricesBy AARON GOULD SHEININStaff WriterAn Upstate lawmaker wants to channel the nation’s anxiety over spiking gasoline prices to bring a new petroleum refinery to the S.C. coast.Rep. Michael Thompson, R-Anderson, will file legislation in November to create a

Grist online magazine on Barton refinery bill

2005-10-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

Refiner MadnessSenate's stab at energy legislation may be more moderate than House billBy Amanda Griscom Little13 Oct 2005"Shame, shame, shame, shame!" That's the furious chant that erupted from the Democratic section of the House of Representatives last Friday after Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) managed to eke out a victory for his Gasoline for America's Security (GAS) Act, which would loosen

Houston Chronicle on Exxon-Mobil deal

2005-10-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

October 12, 2005REFINERIESExxon Mobil settles caseFirm must buy equipment to cut its air pollutionBy DAVID IVANOVICHCopyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington BureauWASHINGTON - Exxon Mobil Corp. has agreed to spend $571 million for equipment to reduce pollution at seven refineries, including one in Baytown.As part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental

Dallas Morning News on "Hurricane Barton"

2005-10-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

Todd J. Gillman:Barton revives controversy in energy bill06:09 AM CDT on Sunday, October 9, 2005WASHINGTON – Two months ago, House energy committee chairman Joe Barton was basking in the thrill of passing a sweeping energy bill, a dream years in the making for Republicans.The bill wasn't everything he'd hoped for. Any number of provisions that Mr. Barton, the administration and their allies

LA Times on House Refinery Bill Vote

2005-10-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

October 8, 2005THE NATIONHouse Bill Calls for New RefineriesRepublicans have to extend voting time to muster support for the measure, which they say will help increase fuel output and curb prices.By Richard Simon, Times Staff WriterWASHINGTON — The House on Friday approved legislation that seeks to spur construction of oil refineries — the first major congressional response to rising energy

Public Radio's "Marketplace" on Energy Bill Attack on Clean Air

2005-10-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Newscast: Controversy arises over plan to get more gas out of refineries and eliminate clear air rules757 words 6 October 2005 MarketplaceKAI RYSSDAL, anchor:There is a bureau in the Department of the Interior called the Minerals Management Service. It keeps track of minerals, sure, but also offshore oil and gas, how much we're drilling and refining. The MMS, as it's known, comes out with an

Newscast: Controversy arises over plan to get more gas out of refineries and eliminate clear air rules

2005-10-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

MARKETPLACE6 October 2005KAI RYSSDAL, anchor:There is a bureau in the Department of the Interior called the Minerals Management Service. It keeps track of minerals, sure, but also offshore oil and gas, how much we're drilling and refining. The MMS, as it's known, comes out with an update every day of how the energy industry is recovering from Katrina. Today's report said 14 percent of this

LA Times on Refinery Legislation

2005-10-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

October 3, 2005Hurricanes Aid Push for Refineries· Katrina and Rita laid bare how limited U.S. fuel-making capacity has become, triggering new efforts to get plants up and running.By Elizabeth Douglass, Times Staff WriterBillionaire Richard Branson says he wants one. So do Kuwaiti oil sheiks. And a small but determined band of investors dream of planting one in the Arizona desert.High gasoline

NY Times Editorial on Efforts to Exploit Katrina

2005-10-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

New York TimesExploiting KatrinaPublished: October 3, 2005It was almost inevitable that we would see every kind of legislative lunacy after Katrina, proposed in the name of accelerating the cleanup in New Orleans, improving the nation's energy security or achieving other worthy objectives. And so we have: Congress has used Katrina as cover for ideas that could never stand on their own and for a

Cox News Service on Barton legislation

2005-10-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

'Gasoline' bill called pretext for industry deregulationBy JEFF NESMITHCox News ServiceWednesday, September 28, 2005WASHINGTON – A "gasoline security" bill being rushed through the House is an attempt to use the recent hurricanes to revive industry deregulation measures that Congress rejected last month, environmental and health groups charged Tuesday.The bill, introduced Monday by Rep. Joe