Energy Production
and Environmental Protection
The president’s National Energy Policy reflects the administration’s
commitment to environmental protection, energy production and
economic prosperity. With nearly half the plan’s specific
recommendations promoting environmentally sound energy practices,
the EPA is a major partner in the administration’s effort to enact the first comprehensive
energy policy for America in a generation. Among EPA action
items already underway are a review of New Source Review, an
expansion of the Energy Star program and the crafting of a multi-pollutant
bill.
Promoting Hemispheric Environmental
Partnerships
At the meeting of the Council of the Commission for Environmental
Cooperation in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 29, 2001, Whitman
secured a pledge from the environmental ministers of Mexico and Canada
“to explore further opportunities for market-based approaches
for carbon sequestration, energy efficiency and renewable energy
in North America.”
Cleaner Air through Cleaner Diesel
Fuel
Whitman affirmed a rule to reduce emissions from large trucks and buses and to reduce
sulfur levels in diesel fuel. This action will result in significant
health benefits to the American people, including the saving of as many as 8,300
lives a year and enhancing the health of children suffering from asthma
by preventing more than 360,000 asthma attacks and 386,000 cases
of respiratory symptoms annually.
Improving Views in America’s National
Parks
To improve the experience of visitors to America’s national parks,
the EPA proposed a rule to control the emissions from older power plants and
other industrial facilities that contribute to haze, which, too often,
spoil the scenic views that once captivated visitors. Parks
whose vistas will be improved include Yellowstone, the Grand
Canyon and Sequoia.
Cleaner Burning Gasoline in the Midwest
To help control gasoline prices in Chicago, IL, and Milwaukee,
WI, without compromising air quality, the EPA made it easier for
refiners to add ethanol to gasoline to help it burn cleaner.
Cleaning Up America’s Brownfields
Whitman has been working closely with congress to secure passage
of brownfields legislation to meet the president’s promise
to give state and local governments greater flexibility and needed resources
to turn community environmental eyesores into productive community
assets. She also joined with members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors
to accept its endorsement of the administration’s brownfield
proposal. In addition, Whitman announced the awarding of more
than $38 million in grants for a total of 36 new brownfield
pilot projects in communities across the country.
Eliminating Persistent Organic Pollutants
To protect the American people from the dangers of 12 chemicals that persist
in the environment long after their use, Whitman represented
the United States in Stockholm, Sweden, for the signing of the
Convention on Persistent Organic Chemicals. This treaty bans
or restricts the production, use and/or release of 12 chemicals
that have been linked to numerous adverse effects in humans
and animals, including cancer, central nervous system damage,
reproductive disorders and immune system disruption.
Cleaner Drinking Water
To improve the purity of drinking
water for America’s families and protect the public health, EPA
issued a rule to protect consumers from microbial pathogens,
including cryptosporidium.
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Improving Rules for Cleaner Water
In response to criticisms from Congress and the National
Academy of Sciences, Whitman has agreed to seek changes
to the controversial Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) rule
over the next 18 months. This action will protect the long-term
health of America’s waterways by addressing numerous
legal challenges that have effectively halted any further
progress in cleaning up America’s lakes, rivers and
streams.
Protecting Ground Water at Yucca
Mountain
To ensure the protection of ground water sources for generations
to come in and around the area of the proposed repository
for radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, NV, the EPA proposed
a rule that will ensure the protection of groundwater for
millennia to come.
Protecting America’s Wetlands
Whitman affirmed a rule to protect America’s wetlands
by more closely regulating construction activities in wetlands.
This rule (the Tulloch Wetland Rule) will help prevent loss
of wetlands to construction practices that were being conducted
under a “loophole” in regulations previously promulgated.
Arsenic Rule
In response to numerous concerns that the arsenic level
set in the proposed rule was not sufficiently based on sound
science and did not adequately address compliance cost issues,
Whitman asked the National Academy of Sciences to perform
an expedited review of a range of three to 20 parts-per-billion
(ppb) of arsenic for a new drinking water standard to protect
public health and asked the National Drinking Water Advisory
Council to review the economic issues associated with a
new standard. These studies are actively ongoing. Whitman
expects to have the new standard in place in sufficient
time to meet the 2006 implementation date set in the original
proposal.
Increased Reporting on Lead
Whitman affirmed a rule to lower the threshold for reporting
of lead used by industry. The new standard will require
any company that manufactures, processes or uses 100 pounds
of lead or more annually to report such use to the EPA as
part of the Toxics Release Inventory. This will significantly
increase the information available to the public about the
uses of lead in America’s communities. Past practice
has shown that such information generally leads to decreased
emissions of reportable toxins by companies, leading to
public health and environmental benefits.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
(CAFOs)
In response to numerous requests from the agricultural community,
Whitman extended by 75 days the public comment period for
this rule.
Promoting Food Safety
EPA achieved agreement among a broad group of stakeholders
to an amended consent decree in a case concerning the use
of pesticides in farming practices. The changes will guarantee
new opportunities for public participation and additional
external review of critical pesticide decisions aimed at
protecting health and safety.
Ensuring Confidence in America’s
Food Supply
To ensure public confidence in America’s food supply,
the EPA has affirmed the importance of rigorous scientific
evaluation of plants that have been engineered to protect
themselves from pests such as insects, viruses and fungi
(plant incorporated protectants).
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