New study details EPA’s regulatory incompetence

A new study authored by William Yeatman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute shows that the EPA is six years behind its regulatory responsibilities to implement three major parts of the Clean Air Act.

“Since 1993, 98 percent of EPA regulations (196 out of 200) pursuant to these programs were promulgated late, by an average of 5.68 years (or 2,072 days) after their respective statutorily defined deadlines,” wrote Yeatman in the study. “Currently, 65 percent of the EPA’s statutorily defined responsibilities (212 of 322 possible) are past due by an average of 5.88 years (or 2,147 days).”

Yeatman notes that this matter for three different reason. First, it shows a tremendous measure of incompetence from an regulatory agency with an enormous amount of power — and there has been little in the way of accountability from Congress.

Secondly, Yeatman notes that the EPA has used its seemingly unchecked regulatory power to pursue a climate change agenda over implementing the Clean Air Act. So instead of carrying out the law as passed by Congress, the EPA has essentially become a legislature in and of itself.

Lastly, the study points out that the EPA has colluded with environmental organizations that file lawsuits against the agency to enact policy.

“Sweetheart lawsuits are enabling secret policy negotiations between unelected bureaucrats and environmental lawyers,” explained Yeatman. “If the EPA wants to give priority to its many outstanding responsibilities, it should do so in cooperation with the states, which have to actually implement these regulations, rather than the likes of environmental special interests like the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, or Center for Biological Diversity.”