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Petroleum industry

Polluters Plot to Gut EPA Plan to Protect National Parks, Target Congressional Democrats and Black Mayors

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Top industrial polluters, including lobbyists from trade associations and major companies like General Motors and Texaco, gathered at the Edison Electric Institute in Washington, D.C. to celebrate their success in stifling a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan to improve air quality in and near national parks. The EPA's "regional haze rule" aimed to reduce pollution and enhance visibility in national parks, but the polluters have waged a covert campaign to undermine it. The lobbyists claimed that their low-key approach had kept the issue off the radar of EPA Administrator Carol Browner.

Key Takeaways:

  • The polluter coalition, known as the Air Quality Coalition, has spent tens of millions of dollars in an unsuccessful effort to block new clean air standards for smog and soot in 1997.
  • The coalition has been working to undermine the EPA's "regional haze rule" for the past six months, using a covert lobbying approach to keep the issue out of EPA Administrator Carol Browner's attention.
  • The lobbyists have targeted Democratic members of the House of Representatives, including Reps. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) and Ron Klink (D-Pa.), to pressure EPA on the haze issue.
  • The polluters have also identified black mayors, including Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, and the Commerce Department as potential allies in their campaign to gut the EPA's plan.
  • The coalition plans to spend the next two years "laying the groundwork" for weakening the Clean Air Act and using corporate foundations to underwrite research projects that could be used to undermine current health standards for smog and soot.
  • The polluters have a remaining war chest of $60,000, which the Edison Electric Institute and Chemical Manufacturers Association have pledged to increase with a quick infusion of new cash.
  • The coalition plans a retreat in the near future to plot a specific "work plan" for the next several years, targeting the Clean Air Act and EPA's health standards.

Statistics:

  • The polluter coalition has spent tens of millions of dollars in an unsuccessful effort to block new clean air standards for smog and soot in 1997.
  • The coalition has been working to undermine the EPA's "regional haze rule" for the past six months.
  • The lobbyists have generated letters of opposition to the EPA rule from at least four state governments and several letters from House Democrats.
  • The coalition plans to spend the next two years "laying the groundwork" for weakening the Clean Air Act.

Sources:

  • U.S. Newswire: "HOW WASHINGTON REALLY WORKS: BIG POLLUTERS BOAST OF PERCEIVED SUCCESS IN COVERT BID TO GUT EPA PLAN TO PROTECT AIR AT NATIONAL PARKS; TARGET CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS, BLACK MAYORS, SENIOR CITIZENS; BEGIN 'LAYING GROUNDWORK' FOR RELAXING CLEAN AIR ACT, UNDERMINING CLEAN AIR HEALTH STANDARDS"
  • COMTEX (http://www.comtexnews.com)

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