EPA To Rely More on Scientists for Air Rules

"The U.S. government will reverse a Bush administration policy and increase the role of scientists in setting air standards for criteria pollutants harmful to human health, Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said on Thursday.

Jackson said the EPA will reinstate the role of a policy document called a 'staff paper' written by agency scientists that contains analyses of options for the administrator to consider when setting air standards.

The Bush administration had replaced the staff paper process with a notice of proposed rule-making outlining options for air rules in the Federal Register, which environmentalists had long complained increased the role of political appointees early in the decision-making process."

Timothy Gardner reports for Reuters May 21, 2009.