Environment

Environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Food Quality Protection Act improve America’s environment and protect public health. These landmark laws have helped provide Americans cleaner air, cleaner water, and safer food. While these environmental laws have been successful, a number of recent investigations for members of Congress by the Special Investigations Division have highlighted ongoing environmental problems.

Latest News

Committee Democrats Ask for Explanation of EPA's Proposed Rollbacks of the Toxics Release Inventory

In a letter to EPA, Reps Lynch, Waxman, and Kucinich express concern about the EPA's proposal to roll back the program that gathers information about industry use and release of toxic chemicals.

Democrats Defend California's Environmental Protections Against Federal Preemption

Twenty-nine members of the California Democratic delegation, led by Reps. Henry A. Waxman, Jim Costa, and Anna G. Eshoo, write to Transportation Secretary Mineta challenging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's attempt to preempt California's landmark law to reduce global warming.

EPA Is Using Katrina to Undermine the Clean Air Act

EPA has drafted legislation that would allow the agency to waive any provision of the Clean Air Act, nationwide – including limits on toxic emissions and the health-based air quality standards – without any notice or public comment whenever the Administrator chooses to declare an emergency.

New EPA Proposal Encourages Human Pesticide Experiments

Reps. Waxman and Solis, along with Sen. Boxer, release an analysis of the new draft EPA rule, slated for proposal next month, would allow the systematic testing of pesticides on humans. The proposed rule fails to adopt key recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and EPA's own advisory committee, and it includes loopholes that invite abuse.

Bush Administration Politicized Climate Change Science

Reps. Waxman and Olver write to colleagues about the Bush Administration's tampering with climate change science.

GAO Asked to Investigate White House Interference with Climate Change Reports

Rep. Waxman and Sen. Kerry ask GAO to look into a recent whistleblower report that former oil industry lobbyist Phillip A. Cooney altered government scientific reports on global warming and that the "White House so successfully politicized the science program that" it became necessary for the whistleblower to resign.

EPA Abandons Rule on Lead Poisoning from Home Renovations

Rep. Waxman, Sens. Boxer and Obama, and Reps. Towns and Lynch protest EPA's abandonment of regulations required by law to protect children from exposure to lead in renovated homes.

EPA Report Politicizes Science on Drilling Technique

Rep. Waxman asks the EPA Inspector General to investigate the influence of political considerations on an EPA report that concludes that "hydraulic fracturing" of oil and gas wells, an extraction technique promoted by Halliburton, does not pose a risk to drinking water.

Development of EPA Shop Towel Proposal Raises Serious Concerns

Rep. Waxman, Rep. DeLauro, Sen. Boxer, and Sen. Clinton ask EPA about a recent report that, in developing proposed new regulations concerning "solvent-contaminated industrial wipes," EPA conducted public participation in an inappropriate and one-sided manner.

Bipartisan House Group Calls on EPA to Issue Stronger Mercury Rule

Reps. Waxman, Cooper, Allen, Grijalva, E.B. Johnson, McCollum, Schakowsky, Solis, and 172 other members of Congress urge EPA to issue a rule on mercury emissions that meets the requirements of federal law and acts decisively to address the urgent threat that mercury poses to the nation’s public health.

Current Mercury Rulemaking Plan Compromised in Process and Substance

Reps. Waxman, Allen, and Schakowsky and Sen. Leahy urge the EPA to rescue the rulemaking process on power plant emissions by analyzing legally viable options and issuing a new or supplemental proposal.

More Questions on Preventing District Drinking Water Contamination

Following a Government Reform Committee hearing, Rep. Waxman, Chairman Davis, Congresswoman Norton, and Rep. Van Hollen detail further questions on the roles and responsibilities of EPA, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Washington Aqueduct in preventing lead contamination in the District's drinking water supply.

In Light of District Drinking Water Contamination, Members Urge Changes to EPA Lead Rule

Rep. Waxman, Chairman Davis, and Congresswoman Norton urge EPA to address weaknesses in the drinking water lead rule, including the lack of enforceable standards and shortcomings in public notification requirements.

EPA Questioned on Obligation to Ensure Safe Drinking Water in DC

Rep. Waxman, Chairman Davis, and Congresswoman Norton seek information on whether EPA adequately carried out its responsibility to prevent lead contamination in tap water in the District of Columbia.

EPA Questioned on Lobbyist Role in Mercury Rulemaking

Reps. Waxman and Allen ask for information on reports that portions of the latest air pollution control proposal may have been copied directly from industry lobbyist memos.

H.R. 2138 Fails to Further Goal of Environmental Protection

Reps. Waxman and Tierney write Subcommittee on Energy Policy Chairman Ose on proposed legislation that would elevate the Environmental Protection Agency to cabinet-level status and makes significant changes to EPA's mission, structure, and authorities.

EPA Asked to Immediately Release Information on Ground Zero Health Risks

Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Conyers, and George Miller ask EPA to release all relevant information on health risks in New York City after Sept. 11, 2001.

EPA Nominee Asked to Ensure Agency Would Meet Mercury Pollution Deadline

Rep. Waxman, with Sen. Leahy and Reps. Allen and Schakowsky, requests assurance from the nominee for EPA Administrator, Utah Governor Michael Leavitt, that, if confirmed, he will ensure that the agency meets the December 15 deadline for a proposal on regulating toxic mercury emissions from power plants.

EPA Advertising Campaign Inappropriate, May Violate Federal Law

Reps. Waxman, Dingell, and Obey express concern that EPA's ongoing advertising campaign in support of the President’s proposed Clear Skies Act is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and in violation of federal law.

Proposed EPA Rule Change Exempts Older Facilities from Clean Air Standards

In a letter to EPA, Senators Edwards, Lieberman, and Jeffords and Reps. Waxman, Markey, Allen, Capps, and Schakowsky object to a proposed EPA rule change that would allow existing power plants to make significant changes to their operations without having to comply with current environmental standards.

EPA Fails to Study Mercury Emissions

Rep. Waxman asks why EPA has failed to conduct an analysis of toxic mercury emissions from power plants, a move which threatens to derail the Clean Air Act rule on controlling these emissions.

Doctors Targeted by Pesticide Industry Re-Invited to Conference

Two months after Rep. Waxman wrote EPA about three pediatricians targeted for removal from a scientific conference by the pesticide industry, a new conference agenda was proposed. It includes the three experts.

EPA and OMB Failed to Warn Public About Asbestos-Contaminated Insulation

In letters to EPA Administrator Whitman and OMB official John Graham, Rep. Waxman and other members of Congress ask why EPA has failed to warn homeowners and workers nationwide about the risks from asbestos-contaminated Zonolite, an insulation used in up to 35 million homes.

Pesticide Industry Attempts to Veto Speakers from EPA-Funded Conference

Rep. Waxman writes EPA Administrator Whitman about agency actions regarding three experts on children and pesticides who the pesticide industry requested be dropped from an educational conference for health professionals.

Gravel Mining Contributes to Local Air Pollution; Regulators Lack Data to Assess Risk

A report released by Reps. Waxman and Solis finds that gravel pit mining in the San Gabriel Valley of California contributes to air pollution in the local area, and that environmental regulators lack basic information about the magnitude of the environmental risk from the mining operations.

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