Category Archives: Obama Administration

Heinzerling on Obama OMB's power grab v. EPA and science-based rulemaking

How can we get scientific integrity, transparency, and accountability in environmental and public health regulation when the President’s Executive Office appears to be the leading offender? In must-read truth-telling articles and interviews, Lisa Heinzerling, who directed the EPA policy office … Continue reading

Posted in Obama Administration, Science-Policy Interaction | 2 Comments

On climate change impact statements: What would be a showstopper?

"Press reports indicate the White House soon will instruct federal agencies to consider the effects on climate of activities they review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)," the Oil & Gas Journal says on April 1 in a warning … Continue reading

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Where are the Keystone XL pipeline whistleblowers?

In a new article published in the Washington Spectator I note the importance of whistleblowers in the context of the controversy over the Keystone XL pipeline. The proposed pipeline would bring up to 830,000 barrels of tar sands crude oil a day … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Science Watch, Obama Administration | 1 Comment

EPA to delay rule limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants?

The Washington Post reports that the Obama administration is "leaning toward" delaying a proposed EPA rule limiting GHG emissions from future U.S. power plants. The rule, pending for almost a year now, would essentially preclude construction of new coal-fired plants … Continue reading

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On Obama's nominees for EPA Administrator and Secretary of Energy

Will the White House allow EPA to move aggressively on regulating greenhouse gases? Will the Energy Department continue President Obama's 'all of the above' approach on oil and gas development? I talked with Al Jazeera English's "Inside Story Americas" about … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Science Watch, Obama Administration | 2 Comments

The State Dept's Keystone XL pipeline draft impact statement is out for public review

Today the U.S. Department of State released a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the new Presidential Permit application for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. "The lengthy assessment did not give environmentalists the answer they had hoped for in the debate … Continue reading

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John Kerry and climate change: Recalling a federal lawsuit against the Bush administration

In August 2007 a federal court ruled the Bush administration was in violation of the Global Change Research Act and ordered it to produce a years-overdue national climate assessment. Sen. John Kerry, who had called on the administration to produce … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Science Watch, Congress: Legislation and Oversight, Obama Administration | Leave a comment

“Penny-wise and pound-foolish”: Weather Service regional director fired after talking about harmful budget cuts

Within days of National Weather Service Southern region director William Proenza going public in the Washington Post about budget cuts that he says threaten Weather Service capabilities, NWS acting head Laura Furgione moved to fire him after a lifetime of … Continue reading

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Recalling an exchange with Sen. John Kerry about climate change and the Bush White House

John Kerry is for real on pushing back against climate silence and the denial machine in Washington. I had the opportunity to testify before Senator Kerry and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee at a hearing on Climate Change Research and Scientific Integrity, … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Science Watch, Congress: Legislation and Oversight, Obama Administration | 2 Comments

What does Obama mean by "Sustainable Energy"?

"The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult," President Obama said in his second Inaugural Address on January 21.  "But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it." What is the President thinking of when … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change Mitigation, Obama Administration | 2 Comments