Schumer stalls EPA nomination

By CASS COLLINS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced Monday that he will place a hold on the nomination of Donald Schregardus for Chief Enforcement Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) until the Bush administration clarifies its position on whether the federal government will withdraw from pending lawsuits against power plants across the Midwest and South. Schumer also said he would maintain the hold on Schregardus’ nomination until the Bush administration sufficiently explains its overall plans to improve air quality in the Northeast, reduce unlawful emissions that produce acid rain, and reverse the recent trend of high ozone readings in New York.

The Bush administration is currently considering withdrawing from pending pollution lawsuits that charge power plants across the country with failure to comply with federal emissions laws regulating chemicals that are the main contributors to smog and acid rain. The suits were filed under provisions of the Clean Air Act. Enforcement of the provisions is vital to the lawsuits and if the government withdraws from the lawsuit, many of the cases would be dropped because the states do not have the legal standing to pursue them independently. As chief environmental officer for the State of Ohio, Schregardus vigorously opposed the lawsuits in question, in part prompting Schumer’s action.

“Pursuing lawsuits against power plants who are skirting clean air regulations is a vital step in protecting air quality standards that affect the health and lives of tens of millions of people,” Schumer said.

“The federal government took a big step forward by aggressively fighting illegal emissions, and now, the nomination of Donald Schregardus…takes us at least two steps back.”

According to a press release issued by Schumer’s office, acid rain has devastated ecosystems throughout New York State, including the Adirondack Park, which has endured the worst damage in the nation, with over 500 of its lakes now unable to sustain life. Catskill Park’s forests and lakes have also been decimated by acid rain.