EPA smog rule rejection stirs anger at White House

By Theo Emery, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON – A surprise decision from the White House today to reject tighter controls on smog emissions infuriated environmentalists and heartened business groups who had fought against the stronger pollution controls.

The White House sent back to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson a proposed regulatory change that would have tightened restrictions on the amount of ozone released into the atmosphere. In a statement, President Obama said reducing air pollution is a priority, but so is reducing regulatory burdens.

Coming amid a bitter partisan debate over how to jumpstart the economy, the decision to delay new ozone regulations and retain a 2008 rule adopted under George W. Bush’s administration had a deeply symbolic meaning. For White House allies, the decision was a bitter disappointment that, for some, invited comparisons with President Obama’s predecessor.

“I disagree that the 2006 pollution science that the Bush Administration ignored should be ignored once again in favor of additional delays in issuing rules to reduce the smog-producing ozone that threatens public health,” US Representative Edward J. Markey of Malden, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement.

At the same time, the move stirred calls among Republicans for further action, as well as from groups seeking less business regulation. US Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said that the White House had “heeded our warning.”

“This an enormous victory for America’s job creators, the right decision by the President, and one that will help reduce the uncertainty facing businesses. It’s also a big first step in what needs to be a broader regulatory reform effort,” he said.

The move represented the latest jockeying between the White House and Congressional Republicans over the lackluster economy and regulatory hurdles. House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio had asked the president for a list of pending regulations that would cost over $1 billion. The ozone rule topped the list that the president provided on Aug. 30, with a cost pegged between $19 billion and $90 billion.

In a letter rejecting the regulation, the White House said it wasn’t necessary to make the change now, that the science it was based on was outdated and that other rules would protect air quality. The administration also defended its record in a blog posting, and the president released a statement appearing to anticipate criticism.

“I want to be clear: my commitment and the commitment of my administration to protecting public health and the environment is unwavering,” he said.

Republicans cheered the decision. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said “this action alone will prevent more job losses than any speech the President has given.” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia said he was hopeful that the president would strike down more regulations. A spokesman for Boehner called it “a good first step,” but said it’s not enough. “It is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to stopping Washington Democrats’ agenda of tax hikes, more government ‘stimulus’ spending, and increased regulations,” said the spokesman, Michael Steel.

Environmental groups were scathing in their criticism of the president. Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, accused the White House of “siding with corporate polluters over the American people,” and said the organization will revive a lawsuit against the administration over the smog standard.

“The Clean Air Act clearly requires the Environmental Protection Agency to set protective standards against smog--based on science and the law. The White House now has polluted that process with politics,” she said.