Editorial: Setting no standard

Monday, Dec. 24, 2007 | 6:55 a.m.

The Environmental Protection Agency's chief has denied California's request to set tough tailpipe emissions standards - despite unanimous recommendations by the EPA's own legal and scientific experts that the request be granted.

California's request, made in 2005, asked for a waiver from the EPA that would have allowed the state to move forward with emissions standards that are more strict than federal standards.

The federal Clean Air Act specifically allows California to set its own vehicle carbon dioxide emissions standards, as long as the EPA grants a waiver to do so.

The law also allows other states to adopt California's standards, in the event they are approved. Fourteen other states stood ready to adopt California's proposed standards, but EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson's denial of the wavier Thursday dashed that opportunity. Johnson's ruling also does not bode well for a federal lawsuit that California will now pursue.

The ruling - which was in direct conflict with all EPA staff recommendations - illustrates just how stubbornly the Bush administration will oppose any action that significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that autos and industry are allowed to spew into the air.

In defending Johnson's decision, President Bush said Friday that a national policy is the better way to manage emissions standards. It's odd logic coming from a president who has fought having such a policy at the national and global levels. Bush's ongoing opposition to setting standards that could result in significant reductions of carbon dioxide emissions has forced states to try to set their own standards.

It is exasperating to watch the Bush administration favor the interests of polluting industries while ignoring - defying, even - sound scientific advice.