While some improvements has been made nationally in both air pollution and water cleanliness, both laws have resulted in the most complex, comprehensive, and costly environmental laws in existence.
Additionally, environmental improvements in both areas began to improve prior to the 1970s when both laws were enacted. Through pragmatic regulatory reform of both laws, the Competitive Enterprise believes Americans can have clean water and improved air quality without submitting to undue regulations that strangle industry and harm our economy.
Featured Posts
News Release
EPA tailpipe rule an abuse of power, consumer freedom
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its final rule on vehicle tailpipe emissions, which mirrors the proposed rule on the expected percentage of…
Blog
Spending bills fail to provide checks on Biden’s energy and environmental abuses
Over the weekend, House and Senate appropriations released the text of six final fiscal year (FY) 2024 spending bills: Energy and Water, Agriculture, Military…
Blog
EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy is unscientific, lacks integrity
The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a draft update to its “Scientific Integrity Policy,” which aims to ensure the agency’s science-based decisions and…
Search Posts
Citation
EPA Policy Based on ‘Junk Science’
Legal Brief
Amicus Brief in Sackett v. EPA
Full Document Available in PDF The Competitive Enterprise Institute filed an amicus brief in September…
News Release
CEI Urges Supreme Court to Let Property Owners Promptly Contest EPA Claims of Wetlands Jurisdiction
Washington, D.C., September 30, 2011— The Competitive Enterprise Institute today filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to allow property owners to promptly…
Citation
EPA Inspector General Criticizes Greenhouse Gas Ruling Procedure
Citation
Inside the Beltway
News Release
Inspector General Finds EPA Climate Science Fails Tests
Washington, D.C., September 28, 2011 – The Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General has found that the agency based its 2009 “Endangerment Finding” on a flawed…
Citation
Industry Pressure and Politics Blamed for Obama’s Smog Rule Delay
News Release
President Postpones Trillion-Dollar Ozone Rule Until After 2012 Presidential Election
Washington, D.C., September 2, 2011 — President Barack Obama on Friday announced that he had ordered EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to stop work on…
Yahoo News
The Alarming Cost Of Climate Change Hysteria
Yahoo News discusses an estimate of the costs of federal regulations from Wayne Crews's study. The Small Business Administration estimates that compliance with…
Albuquerque Journal
Don’t Believe the EPA: PNM Ruling a Ripoff
Last Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency ran roughshod over New Mexico officials and imposed nearly $340 million in unjustified costs on PNM customers – in…
The Pelican Post
Louisiana Remains on the Receiving End of Washington D.C.’s Worst Regulations
Comment
Comments on the EPA Proposed Response to Remand Regarding National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ozone
In 1999, the United States Court of Appeals struck down the new ozone NAAQS. Among other things, the Court faulted the agency for failing to…
Comment
Comments on the EPA Proposed Response to Remand Regarding National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ozone
In 1999, the United States Court of Appeals struck down the new ozone NAAQS. Among other things, the Court faulted the agency for failing to…
News Release
CEI Launches ‘Resourceful Earth’ to Fight Political Barriers to Natural Resource Production
Washington, DC, June 17, 2011 – The Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy and Environment this week launched Resourceful Earth, a new project that will…
The Pelican Post
Chris Horner on High Gas Prices
Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Chris Horner discusses the effects of regulatory uncertainty for the energy industry as well…
News Release
EPA Case for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Torn Apart by New Study
Washington, D.C., March 21, 2011- The Environmental Protection Agency is relying on accounting tricks and gimmicks in its claims that clamping down on greenhouse gas…
Study
Clearing the Air on the EPA’s False Regulatory Benefit-Cost Estimates and Its Anti-Carbon Agenda
The EPA’s anti-carbon campaign threatens to greatly undermine future U.S. economic growth and job creation, while doing virtually nothing to restrict global CO2 emissions, and,…
News Release
House Considers Bill To Stop EPA Power Grab
Washington, D.C. February 9, 2011 – A House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee today will hold a hearing on critical legislation – the Energy Tax Prevention…
Study
Depoliticizing Groundwater
Full Document Available in PDF Groundwater management problems in Jakarta Indonesia, as recently highlighted in the Financial…
The Pelican Post
The Power of the EPA
Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Chris Horner tells us how the EPA is being used to enforce…
The Pelican Post
Politicized Science: The ‘Erin Brockovich Chemical’
If you believe the Environmental Working Group’s latest “study,” your drinking water might be contaminated with dangerous levels of a chemical that the group has…
The Pelican Post
Are Biofuel Policies Fueling a Global Food Crisis?
Study
Reform Wetlands Policies
Liberate to Stimulate Index…
Study
Embrace Private Conservation of Land and Natural Resources
Liberate to Stimulate Index Private stewardship and markets play a critical role in land and natural resource conservation. Much of America’s land…
Study
Develop New Approaches to Preserve Ocean Resources
Liberate to Stimulate Index The world’s fisheries face severe decline. Because many of the world’s ocean resources are not “owned,” they tend…
Study
Affirm the Role of Property Rights in Water Rights Policies
Liberate to Stimulate Index Battles over limited water supplies in the United States and around the world have long produced conflicts and…
Study
Purify Federal Water Policies
Liberate to Stimulate Index Drinking Water. Drinking water policy should focus on how best to ensure that Americans have clean and safe…
Study
Ensure Consumers’ Access to Bottled Water
Liberate to Stimulate Index Bottled water offers many important benefits— including portability, emergency applications, and convenience. The bottled water industry had been…
News Release
EPA Ratchets Up Campaign to Destroy Jobs
Washington, D.C., January 14, 2011 — The Competitive Enterprise Institute today sharply criticized the Environmental Protection Agency for its decision to revoke a Clean Water…
Study
Lead in Drinking Water
Full Document Available in PDF During the winter of 2004, the District of Columbia discovered…
Study
Rural Drinking Water
Full Document Available in PDF Rural communities face heavy burdens under uniform federal drinking water standards…
Study
Radon
Full Document Available in PDF The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to promulgate a drinking water…
Study
Safe Drinking Water Act Overview
Full Document Available in PDF Since passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)…
Study
Clean Air Act Overview
Full Document Available in PDF Enacted in 1970, the Clean Air Act (CAA) is the…
One News Now
New Regulations Beyond EPA’s Control
Newsletter
Cloned Meat, Kagan’s Activism and Greenhouse Gases in Texas
Protestors object to the idea of cloned animals being part of the human food chain. Elena Kagan is sworn in as the nation’s 122th Supreme…
News Release
EPA Refuses to Reconsider Harmful Energy Regulations
Washington, D.C., July 30, 2010 – The EPA Thursday rejected petitions to reconsider the agency’s move to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as a “public endangerment”…
One News Now
Obama Uses Oil Spill to Push Failed Energy Policies
In his speech, President Obama used the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to push his failed energy policies, such as…
One News Now
Obama’s Actions Prevent Timely Clean-Up By U.S. Allies
Crucial offers to help clean up BP’s oil spill “have come from Belgian, Dutch, and Norwegian firms that … possess some of the world’s most…
One News Now
Obama Blocks Louisiana, Foreign Allies from Oil Spill Clean-Up
The Obama Administration recently used red tape to force Louisiana to stop using 16 barges that were cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico…
One News Now
Most Green Jobs Went to Foreign Firms (Letter to the Editor)
It is incredible that the federal government spent billions of dollars on so-called "green jobs" without having any definition of what a green…
One News Now
Obama Refuses to Waive Law to Allow Foreign Help With Oil Spill
Crucial offers to help clean up BP’s oil spill “have come from Belgian, Dutch, and Norwegian firms that . . . possess some of…
One News Now
Action Needed Now to Stop EPA Power Grab
I wrote this morning in the American Spectator about how tight the vote is on Senator Murkowski’s bid to stop the…
One News Now
BP’s Disturbingly Close Ties to Obama Administration
Columnist Tim Carney notes that BP, responsible for the massive oil spill, is “a close friend of big government whenever it serves the company’s…
Study
Overturning EPA’s Endangerment Finding Is a Constitutional Imperative
By Marlo Lewis and Former Gov. George Allen…
Newsletter
Health, Marriage Penalties, and Emission Standards
The House passes the Democrats’ health care bill. The health care bill penalizes married couples. A Harvard University study analyzes how the nation could meet…
News Release
CEI, Science Groups Petition EPA to Reconsider Increasingly Dubious Global Warming “Endangerment” Finding
Regulation Would Bring Economy-Crushing Regulations Based on Shoddy Science Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 2009 – Two science groups joined with the Competitive Enterprise Institute on…
Newsletter
Murkowski vs. EPA, Public Sector Unions and Ozone Rules
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) leads the opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. For the first time in…
Newsletter
Climate Change in Copenhagen, Intel and Antitrust and Rep. Barton Takes on the EPA
Tempers run high at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Federal Trade Commission takes on Intel over allegedly anticompetitive practices. Rep. Joe…
One News Now
Emissions Cuts Key to Climate Charter
One News Now
1 Year Later-Obama’s Legacy of Lies and Broken Promises
It’s been a year since the president was elected, and he’s already piled up an impressive list of lies and broken promises.
Newsletter
Teacher Unions, Obama’s Climate Czar and Public Choice
Director Bob Bowden exposes corruption and waste in public schools in the new film The Cartel. Critics object to the potentially sweeping powers of President…
Comment
Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act
Full Document Available in PDF For all of the reasons cited in the comments, we object to EPA…
Newsletter
Cybersecurity, Consumer Snitching and an Insurance Downgrade
A new bill to would give the White House “cybersecurity emergency” powers. Consumer Reports magazine turns a high-performing showerhead over to the EPA for exceeding…
Newsletter
Bottled Water, Microhoo and New Policy at the FDA
Critics of the bottled water industry call for federal labeling requirements. Microsoft and Yahoo begin the process of seeking federal approval for their announced business…
One News Now
Labeling Won’t Make Bottled Water Safer
Government mandate labeling won't make the water safer, and it won't educate consumers on the risks. However, new bottled water labeling regulations will increase…
Newsletter
Regulating online drug ads, Google Book settlement, bottled water to the rescue
Yahoo being scrutinized online pharmaceutical ads. Microsoft, Yahoo, and Amazon sign on to oppose the Google Book settlement.
Newsletter
Microsoft & Yahoo, Smog Levels and CSPI’s Salt Suit
Microsoft and Yahoo agree to an online advertising partnership. Global warming is predicted to lead to higher levels of smog. The Center for Science in…
One News Now
Congressional Hype About Bottled Water
The news is depressing these days as people fear losing their homes or jobs and worry about family members deployed in military operations overseas.
Newsletter
Chevron in Court, Health Care in Congress and California’s Budget in Crisis
Chevron continues to fight a lawsuit alleging environmental damage done in Ecuador. Republicans go on the offensive against President Obama’s proposed health care plan. Governor…
Newsletter
Big Labor in Congress, Private Conservation and White House Science Policy
Potentially dramatic changes in U.S. labor law make their way through the legislative process. Efforts to eliminate E. coli contamination on farms leads to unintended…
Newsletter
Safe Bottled Water, a Second Stimulus and Keeping Government out of Insurance
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) questions the safety of the U.S. bottled water industry. Officials consider putting together a second stimulus package to follow the $787…
One News Now
Peak Oil, Peak Water?
Watering the lawn in the summer can be expensive. And that might be a good reason to consider alternative landscaping. But it you…
Newsletter
Energy Taxes, Tap vs. Bottled Water and Gov. Crist’s War on Florida Homeowners
Debate intensifies over the Waxman-Markey climate bill. Minneapolis launches an advertising campaign to persuade residents to drink tap water in stead of bottled water. Florida…
Newsletter
Burning Rivers, Broadband Price Controls and Beach House Bailouts
Residents of Cleveland observe the 40th anniversary of the infamous Cuyahoga River fire. Congress considers a bill to regulate the pricing of broadband Internet service.
Study
California’s New Diesel Regulation Is All Pain for No Gain
California's new diesel truck regulations would drive business out of the state…
News Release
On 40th Anniversary of Cuyahoga Fire, Myths Loom Larger Than Reality
Today is the 40th Anniversary of the famous Cuyahoga river fire in Cleveland, Ohio. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is celebrating the anniversary, because it…
Newsletter
Clean Water, Banking Regulations and Air Quality
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee marks up the “Clean Water Restoration Act.” President Obama announces major new controls on the…
Newsletter
Cap and Trade, GM’s Bankruptcy and BPA
Utilities worry about the costs associated with proposed “cap and trade” legislation for greenhouse gases. General Motors files for bankruptcy. Manufacturers fight off a proposed…
Newsletter
Unemployment Numbers, Mileage Rules and Computer Recycling
Unemployment reaches its highest level since 1983. President Obama announces an increase in auto mileage requirements for new cars. Computer giant Dell announces it will…
One News Now
Rather than vilify bottled water, scale back recycling programs
Gov. David A. Paterson has jumped on the anti-bottled water bandwagon by issuing an executive order halting state-agency purchases of bottled water…
News Release
Leaked OMB Memorandum Confirms EPA Endangerment Finding Threatens Economy
Leaked OMB Memorandum Confirms EPA Endangerment Finding Threatens Economy ‘Serious economic consequences,’ Memo Warns Washington, DC, May 12, 2009 – A leaked…
Newsletter
Chrysler’s Bankruptcy, Small Businesses Fight Back and New York’s War on Bottled Water
Financial analysts size up what Chrysler’s entrance into Chapter 11 bankruptcy means for customers and employees. Small business owners band together to oppose new union…
CSN News
Obama’s Climate Change Envoy Urges Global Warming Treaty, Offers Few Specifics
New York Times
New bottle deposit and bag tax bills
Michelle Malkin
Humans make Earth Day better
Michelle Malkin
House Panel Being Urged to Enact Clean Energy Law
News Release
VIDEO: People Make Earth Day Better
This year, the Competitive Enterprise Institute urges those celebrating Earth Day to remember the challenges presented by living in the natural world, and the inspiring ways that human…
Wall Street Journal
Small Cars Are Dangerous Cars
How Fuel economy zealots can kill you.
News Release
EPA Issues Global Warming ‘Endangerment’ Finding
A just-published major ruling on the health and welfare implications of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions was announced Friday by the Obama administration. The Environmental Protection Agency…
Newsletter
Banning Bottled Water, Remembering Jack Dreyfus and Greenhouse Gas Legislation
Activists campaign for college campuses to ban sales of bottled water. Legendary investor Jack Dreyfus passes away at age 95. Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and…
Wall Street Journal
An Activist Tea Party to Reverse Founding Principles
When activist groups recently held a “reverse tea party”—dumping bottled water into the Boston Harbor—their goal was not to dilute the harbor.
Wall Street Journal
Now banned on campus: bottled water
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Wall Street Journal
Learning From Cameron’s Mistake
Learning from Cameron’s Mistake Embracing trendy green policies did not help the British Tories. By Iain Murray & Matthew Sinclair…
Newsletter
Countering Earth Hour, Mismanagement at Freddie Mac and Good News for Coal
Lights go out around the world in observance of “Earth Hour”. Regulators push mortgage giant Freddie Mac to…
Newsletter
A Reverse Tea Party, Geithner’s Insurance Plan and Trade War with Mexico
Environmental activists pour bottled water into Boston Harbor to protest “water privatization.” Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner proposes a vast expansion of federal regulation of financial…
Newsletter
Bottled Water Wars, Stimulus Disaster and Offshore Oil
Activists urge local governments to enact policies opposing the sale of bottled water. The Dow Jones Industrial Average drops dramatically as President Obama signs a…
News Release
New Study Debunks Myths About Bottled Water
Recent activist campaigns against bottled water have been filled with myths and half-truths, and have been motivated more by environmentalist ideology than evidence, according to a new study released…
Op-Eds
Granting Emissions Waiver Will Lead to De-stimulus
President Obama has directed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to reconsider the Bush Administration’s denial of a Clean Air Act waiver that would…
News Release
What’s Stupid About Bottled Water?
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News Release
Obama Carbon Dioxide Plan Would Wreck Economy, Auto Industry
President Obama today announced he would seek to allow states to restrict tailpipe emissions and order the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop higher fuel-efficiency standards. Both are disastrous for…
News Release
CEI Unveils Agenda for Congress
Washington, D.C., January 26, 2009—With the incoming Obama administration and the opening of the new Congress, the House and Senate are…
Detroit News
The Unviability of Electric Cars
Newsletter
Bottled Water for the Homeless, Challenging NAFTA and Green-on-Green Violence
North Carolina officials pass out winter aid kits to the homeless. Barack Obama’s presumptive pick for trade representative suggests that the U.S. should renegotiate the…
Comment
Free market groups submit a joint comment on EPA’s ANPR on Greenhouse Gas Regulation under the Clean Air Act
CEI’s Marlo Lewis and representatives of 28 other free market and conservative organizations filed this joint comment urging EPA not to make an endangerment finding with…
Comment
Comments on EPA’s ANPR on Greenhouse Gas Regulation Under the Clean Air Act
In this comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation under the Clean Air Act (CAA),…
Detroit News
carbon dioxide and The Clean Air Act
Newsletter
Yahoo’s Fortunes, Chevron’s Strange Ads and the Battle over Bottled Water
Shares of web pioneer Yahoo Inc. rise upon departure of CEO Jerry Yang. Chevron launches a series of ads aimed at reducing energy consumption. A…
Newsletter
Home Sales Rise, Voter Fraud Accusations and Another Ban on Bottled Water
Existing home sales rise 5.5% in September. Groups around the country preemptively prepare for the possibility of voter fraud. Bottled water faces a ban by…
Detroit News
the EnjoyBottledWater.org campaign
Staff & Scholars
Sam Kazman
Counsel Emeritus
- Antitrust
- Automobiles and Roads
- Banking and Finance
Marlo Lewis, Jr.
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Ben Lieberman
Senior Fellow
- Climate
- Energy
- Energy and Environment
Angela Logomasini
Adjunct Fellow
- Chemical Risk
- Consumer Freedom
- Energy and Environment
Fred L. Smith, Jr.
Founder; Chairman Emeritus
- Automobiles and Roads
- Aviation
- Business and Government