EPA’s Johnson ‘Completely Rejects’ The Claim He ‘Doesn’t Listen’ To His Staff
EPA’s Johnson ‘Completely Rejects’ The Claim He ‘Doesn’t Listen’ To His Staff
Today, the National Journal published a March 28 interview with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson in which he defended his most controversial decisions. These include issuing a tepid smog standard, denying California a waiver to regulate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, and the EPA’s continued silence on greenhouse gas regulations, in defiance of the Supreme Court.
Most laughably, Johnson rejected the claim that he has a history of “ignoring EPA experts and caving in to White House orders on environmental issues”:
That is the furthest thing from the truth. Each of these decisions is my decision, my decision alone. One of the things that I’ve learned in my 27 years at EPA and being in a variety of decision-making capacities is that it’s not a popularity contest. … I completely reject the fact that I don’t listen to my staff.
The truth is that Johnson has a well-documented past of “ignoring EPA experts and caving in to White House orders”…
…on the California waiver:
— LA Times: “The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ignored his staff’s written findings in denying California’s request for a waiver…sources inside and outside the agency told The Times on Thursday.”
– EPA staffer: “California met every criteria . . . on the merits. … We told him that. All the briefings we have given him laid out the facts.”
– EPA staff memo to Johnson: “If you are asked to deny this waiver, I fear the credibility of the agency that we both love will be irreparably damaged.”
– Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA): “A funny thing happened on the way to the White House. … Mr. Johnson goes into the White House with a briefing that tells him to fight for the waiver. And then, the waiver’s not granted.”
…on the smog standards:
– NY Times: “The Environmental Protection Agency announced a modest tightening of the smog standard on Wednesday evening, overruling the unanimous advice of its scientific advisory council for a more protective standard.”
– LA Times: “President Bush intervened at the 11th hour and turned down a second proposal by the EPA staff that would have established tougher seasonal limits on ozone based on its harm to forests, crops and other plants.”
– AP: “In a letter sent to Johnson earlier this week, the [Clean Air Scientific Advisory] committee said it remained convinced that the EPA’s concentration level ‘fails to … ensure an adequate margin of safety’ for the elderly, children and people with respiratory illnesses.”
In fact, EPA members are so fed up with Johnson’s leadership that 19 unions affiliated with the agency wrote to Johnson last month to announce their departure, complaining “that he and other top managers have ignored the advice of unionized workers and the agency’s own principles of scientific integrity.”
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26 Responses to “EPA’s Johnson ‘Completely Rejects’ The Claim He ‘Doesn’t Listen’ To His Staff”
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“Sir, your staff claims that you completely reject anything they suggest.”
“That’s not true. I completely reject that statement.”
“Thanks for clearing that up, sir.”
April 11th, 2008 at 3:30 pmWhen/if Johnson ever leaves the EPA (MCStain could hold him over), does he go to work for Cargill? ADM? Monsanto? He’ll certainly be well-placed to add exponentially to that magnificent expanse of surplus chin hanging there under his jaw…
April 11th, 2008 at 3:34 pmAnd is there a reason that any of this should surprise us? Dubya has never found anything remotely resembling an environmental issue that he liked, unless it made money for Halliburton or one of his other major campaign contributors.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pmThis system has to change. The certain powers must be taken away from the president. This is a clear case of politics over the country. The pullution we breath spews from the mouth of George W. Bush. The Congress should over see departments that over see regulartory agencies and public safty. THIS IS BULL having the president making stupid decisions over the well being of this nation.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pmUm, er, BushitCo appointees don’t need no stinkin ‘principles of scientific whatever…’
April 11th, 2008 at 3:40 pmThis is the kind of tortured Orwellian logic that has taken hold of our media. We should be seeing stories condemning Johnson’s story. They should be writing stories about how this man does ignore the science, the unanimous advice of his staff, has faced constant losses in the courts for arbitrary action. However, we will not see these stories. We will see this usual “he said, she said” argument without any real conclusion as to the facts. Facts which clearly show Johnson to be the worst sort of hack and petty tyrant.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:40 pmHe works for the Corporate Profits Environment and Protects them.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:41 pmJohnson then stuck his fingers in his ears so that he could not hear the reporter’s next question.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:47 pmPerhaps he listens, and then, like Cheney, says, “So?”
April 11th, 2008 at 3:49 pmI completely reject the fact that I don’t listen to my staff. Furthermore, I refuse to listen to any more such absurd accusations by my staff.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:50 pm“Any comment from the second chin?”
April 11th, 2008 at 3:55 pmThat is the furthest thing from the truth. Each of these decisions is my decision, my decision alone. One of the things that I’ve learned in my 27 years at EPA and being in a variety of decision-making capacities is that it’s not a popularity contest. … I completely reject the fact that I don’t listen to my staff.
Has Bush gven him instructions like, “Decide whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t hurt corporate profits.”? Because that’s the only way I can see that his statement might be true. Otherwise, he’s lying.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pmMcWars Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
“Any comment from the second chin?”
Otherwise known as the “Deputy” EPA Administrator.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pmMcWars Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
“Any comment from the second chin?”
Yeah
“AIR” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pmTypo alert, Faiz — I believe it’s spelled “Completely”
April 11th, 2008 at 4:07 pmDid he mention anything about the round of reprisals he has planned for the traitors on his staff who dare disagree with him?
April 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pmHe listens, but ignores. Just another environment hater who is probably going to Hell. Oh well. And oh, wow what a chin!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pmJohnson announced, “We don’t need no stinkin’ scientific advisory council. The EPA is now a faith based regulatory agency.”
April 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pmYou’re not listening!!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:24 pmComment by second chin:
Geez, and I used to be a Chinese dynasty!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:42 pmAnd his staff completely rejects his claim that he listens to them– over & over & over. Proof supplied in this article. This guy is so much like the incompetent loser Ricky Gervais played in The Office — stupid, oblivious, full of himself, and completely ignorant of what his staff thinks of him.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:46 pmJohnson is one more fox in one more chicken coop in what is termed the “Bush administration.” Business interests are running this country now, hand in hand with the government. That’s called fascism….pure and simple. And the media is just as owned as these so-called public regulatory agencies are.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:20 pmYeah!!! And I completely reject the fact that I’m 30 pounds overweight.
Whew. I feel so much better now.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:36 pm“I completely reject the fact. . .”
The motto and soon to be epitaph of the entire Bush administration. Rejecting reality since 2001.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:06 pmLast month, a federal appeals court threw out the EPA’s approach to limiting mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants, ruling that agency officials had followed their own desires rather than the law in imposing new standards that were favorable to plant owners.
“Mercury from power plants settles over waterways, polluting rivers and lakes, and contaminating fish. Exposure to mercury poses real risks to public health, especially to children and developing fetuses,” Browner said. “The greatest source of mercury emissions is power plants.” Today’s decision to address this problem marks a major step forward in the Clinton Administration’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and the environment.”
Exposure to mercury has been associated with both neurological and developmental damage in humans. The developing fetus is the most sensitive to mercury’s effects, which include damage to nervous system development. People are exposed to mercury primarily through eating fish that have been contaminated when mercury from power plants and other sources is deposited to water bodies. Once mercury enters water, biological processes can transform it into methylmercury, a highly toxic form of mercury that builds up in animal and human tissues.
After reading all this and more, I think it is safe to say that the Clinton administration was cleaning up the environment. Now you want us to take three steps back. Do you think the rise in Autism might possibly be an indication that Mercury is not safe. Just a thought. Are many future generations going to pay the price for your reckless disregard of the facts that have been given to you? Yes, they will. Environmental factors effect everyone but especially children and pregnant women. I think the price is too high to overlook.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:23 pmDo not talk in these stupid tones. This is not a debate, this is not politics. This is a fascist tyranny. These people serve a corporate interest and nothing will change until they are forced to go to prison or die.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pm