Emissions Standards

There are two sides to every story, but EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson didn't want to tell his. Johnson refused repeated requests from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to produce documents and talk about why he denied California a waiver to set their own automotive emissions standards.

You'd think he'd have something to say about this unusual action -- it's the first time that the EPA has denied a Clean Air Act waiver since it got the right to grant them in 1967.[1] And Johnson denied the waiver over his staff's recommendations[2] after having had two years to deliberate.[3] Luckily, Committee chair Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has just begun to fight. She has introduced legislation to reverse the EPA decision and her bill has the support of 18 other Senators, including Democrats, Republicans, and both of the Senate's Independents.[4]