Center for Effective Government | Because government matters

EPA Agrees to Act on Air Pollution in National Parks

In a recent court settlement, EPA agreed to issue new standards by April 15, 2005, to reduce air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas. A good visibility day in Smoky Mountains National Park The effects of air pollution are apparent in this shot, taken in the same spot as shown above. The settlement stems from a lawsuit against the agency, brought by Earthjustice on behalf of

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Bush Picks Utah Governor to Head EPA

President Bush recently nominated Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt (R) to head the EPA, replacing Christie Whitman, who resigned in May. During his more than 10 years as governor, Leavitt touted an environmental philosophy he called “Enlibra,” which is defined as a move toward balance. Yet, in practice, many of his decisions tilted against environmental protections.

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Administration Pushes for Increased Oil and Gas Development

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently instructed federal land-use planners to clear the way for increased oil and gas drilling on federal lands. This action stems from a study, requested by Congress in 2000, that inventoried oil and gas resources underlying five Western basins and examined environmental restrictions on access to those resources.

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OMB Watch Calls for Withdrawal of Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Nonprofits

The IRS is seeking comments on ideas that U.S. charities might employ to prevent diversion of charitable assets to terrorists. In seeking comments, the IRS references guidelines issued by the Treasury Department last November that were published without public comment.

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Executive Order Assigns Information Sharing Development to DHS

The President issued an Executive Order July 29 that gives Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tom Ridge authority to develop the information sharing functions under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

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First Data Quality Lawsuit Filed

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), an anti-regulatory group, filed the first lawsuit under the Data Quality Act (DQA) against the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP). The suit challenges a climate change report, “National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change,” and seeks to prevent its dissemination to the public.

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Senate Denied Information, Again

The Treasury Department is following in the Bush administration’s footsteps of refusing to provide Congress with requested information. The Bush administration has shown a consistent trend of refusing congressional requests for information including such matters as the energy task force; use of new powers granted under the Patriot Act; and the classified Saudi section of the 9/11 report.

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Counterterrorism Database Could Threaten Privacy

A Florida counterterrorism database is raising questions over the balance between personal privacy and homeland security. The Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange (MATRIX) system is the most recent government tool that pushes the envelope for the amount and type of information on individuals that the government uses.

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