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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2002

The Democratic staff on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee has released a report criticizing President Bush's rollback of environmental and health regulations finalized during the Clinton administration.

The report "Rewriting the Rules," focuses on a White House directive to all federal agencies suspending all pending regulations. The memo was issued the day of the inauguration, January 19, 2001.

Three cases are singled out: the roadless forest rule at the Department of Agriculture, the hard-rock mining rule at the Department of Interior and the arsenic in drinking water rule at the Environmental Protection Agency.

On forests, the rule is being dramatically reworked to address industry concerns and also a lawsuit by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. The mining rule has also been changed to reflect the industry.

The arsenic standard was upheld after a several month and controversial review that drew criticism.

The report does not address a land-into-trust rule suspended at the Interior. The regulation has been scrapped and the Bush administration has not moved to replace it.

The committee is chaired by Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.)

Get the Story:
Report Says Bush Administration Rewrote the Rules on Protecting the Environment, Public Health (Senate Governmental Affairs Committee 10/24)
Panel Assails Bush's Environmental Record (The Washington Post 10/25)
Panel Faults Environmental Efforts (AP 10/25)
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Read the Report:
Rewriting the Rules (October 2002)

Relevant Links:
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee - http://www.senate.gov

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