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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Report Documents Administration's Political Interference with Science

The Democratic staff of the House Committee on Government Reform recently released a report examining the Bush administration’s handling of scientific matters -- finding in many cases, that scientific integrity has been sacrificed to further a political or ideological agenda. The report, which came at the request of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), finds “numerous instances where the administration has manipulated the scientific process and distorted or suppressed scientific findings.” For example:

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    FDA Rolls Back Olestra Labeling Requirements

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted requirements that food containing olestra, a zero-calorie fat substitute, bear a statement informing consumers that the additive may cause gastrointestinal problems. FDA approved olestra for use in 1996 but required foods containing the fat substitute to be labeled with the following statement in a boxed format: "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS OLESTRA. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E, and K have been added."

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    Court Rejects Tire Pressure Monitoring Rule as Too Weak

    A federal appeals court recently rejected a weak standard, issued by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), to guard against under-inflated tires, calling it “contrary to the law and arbitrary and capricious.”

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    Rule Allows Timber Projects to Avoid Environmental Assessments

    The Forest Service recently issued standards allowing timber projects to eschew environmental assessments and impact statements -- normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) -- provided that the affected area poses a risk of wildfire or contains insect-infested or diseased trees. The measures outline three categorical NEPA exemptions that would allow the harvesting of up to 70 acres of live trees (up from 50 in the proposal), the removal of up to 250 acres of dead or dying trees, and the removal of up to 250 acres of insect-infested or diseased areas.

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    Senate Puts Aside GOP Energy Bill, Passes Last Year's Version

    Senate Republicans recently agreed to set aside their energy bill (S. 14) after negotiations had reached a standstill and instead passed last year's Democratic version (formerly H.R. 4) by a vote of 84 to 14 on July 31.

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    EPA to Reconsider Roll Back of Air Standards

    The Bush administration has agreed to reconsider a final rule issued in December that weakens air-pollution standards for factories, refineries, and power plants.

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    Roadless Rule Struck Down (Again)

    A federal district court in Wyoming recently struck down the Clinton-era roadless rule, which protects 58.5 million acres of pristine U.S. Forest Service lands from logging and development -- the latest in a series of court decisions concerning the measure. A federal judge in Idaho previously struck down the rule in May of 2001, but it was subsequently reinstated on appeal in December of 2002. There are currently nine lawsuits over the rule pending in seven different states.

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    What Chemicals are in Your Water?

    The chemical revolution over the last 50 years has brought great benefits; it has also exposed us to unknown risks from thousands of untested chemicals that now circulate around us and inside of us.

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    EPA to Assess Carper Bill with Same Model Used on Clear Skies

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to analyze Sen. Tom Carper’s (D-DE) “Clean Air Planning Act” (S. 3135) with the same model used to show increased benefits for President Bush’s Clear Skies plan.

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