Bush Administration Close To Failing On Environmental Policy

Washington, D.C., January 22, 2003—On issues ranging from arsenic in drinking water to chemical plant security, a Competitive Enterprise Institute policy analyst gives the Bush administration a near-failing midterm grade on its handling of environmental policy.  CEI’s director of risk and environmental policy, Angela Logomasini, analyzed the administration’s decisions in five areas for a report card released today by PERC—The Center for Free Market Environmentalism.  The full report card is available online.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

For an interview with Ms. Logomasini, please contact CEI’s media relations department at 202.331.2252.

GRADE

TOPIC

EXPLANATION

B

Chemical Plant Security

The administration deserves credit for opposing legislation that would reduce or phase out life-saving chemicals, and for efforts to protect private information that could assist terrorists.

D

Arsenic

The administration’s standard for arsenic in drinking water promises to diminish public health by raising costs of living for poor, rural families, and other Americans on fixed incomes.

D

POPs Treaty

The administration’s signing of the treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) promises to make malaria control more difficult because of regulations on DDT.  The administration deserves credit for opposing legislation that would allow international negotiators to impose more bans on the United States without Congressional approval.

C-

Superfund

The administration’s initiative on cleaning up abandoned sites promises to make cleanup more difficult.  The administration earned points for opposing the Superfund tax, which unjustly taxes innocent parties.

F

Lead Rule

The administration’s approval of the Clinton Administration’s rule on reporting of lead “releases” under the Toxics Release Inventory will cost small businesses considerably, yet provides no measurable public health benefit.

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