WATCHING GOVERNMENT: Browner wins big

Ending weeks of debate within the administration, President Bill Clinton has overruled his economic advisors and decided to stick with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner's harsh smog and soot rules. She has been pushing to issue tough standards by July 19, despite strong public and congressional opposition (OGJ, May 26, 1997, p. 25).

June 30, 1997

3 min read

Patrick Crow
Washington, D.C.
[email protected]

She has been pushing to issue tough standards by July 19, despite strong public and congressional opposition (OGJ, May 26, 1997, p. 25).

Browner told a White House briefing the regulations mark the first time that the standard for ozone has been updated in nearly 2 decades. She also said particulate matter is increasingly causing respiratory problems in urban areas, especially among children.

Clinton conceded the rules are "somewhat controversial" but hinted they would be relaxed a little in implementation.

He said, "We think that if we have high standards protecting the environment, but we're flexible on how those standards are implemented and we give adequate time and adequate support for technology and creativity to develop, then we can protect the environment and grow the economy at the same time."

Objections

The administration was warned that the tougher air quality standards will put hundreds of counties out of compliance with the Clean Air Act and force states to impose costly controls on emissions of ozone and particulates, mostly caused by burning fuels.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently joined the list of national groups opposing the proposed rules, saying they would hurt the econ- omies of major cities.

Opponents have said the new rules could cost the U.S. economy as much as $150 billion/year.

Browner's intransigence on the issue had backed Clinton into a corner.

If he significantly moderated the rules, he would appear to be weak on the environment and appear to be publicly rebuking her.

If he did not, he risked the political embarrassment of seeing the rules blocked by Congress or the courts.

Reactions

That could happen next. The Air Quality Standards Coalition, an industry group, quickly urged Congress to reverse the EPA decision.

Charles DiBona, American Petroleum Institute president, and Andrew Card, American Automobile Manufacturers Association president, called the standards "a crushing blow to state and local governments, local economies, and taxpayers.

"The administration lacked the courage to do what is right. Those who worked hard to bring reason to the debate-including some 250 members of Congress, 27 governors, and more than a thousand mayors and other state, county, and local officials-were simply ignored."

They said the administration's decision "underscores the fact that Browner has had a closed mind on this issue from the outset, ignoring the views of EPA's own Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and making a mockery of the public comment period during which thousands of concerned citizens opposed the standards."

They said the Clinton administration is aware the rules' costs far outweigh their benefits, "but has calculated that most Americans are not (aware). It now falls to Congress to fix a problem that never should have been."