Perverting science for politics

[Clodfobble]

A slew of industries, including electric utilities and cement manufacturers, had recently urged White House officials in private meetings to keep the ozone limit at 80 parts per billion in order to minimize the cost of installing pollution controls.

Nearly a year ago, the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee reiterated in writing that its members were "unanimous in recommending" that the agency set the standard no higher than 70 parts per billion and that the agency should consider reducing ozone levels to as low as 60 parts per billion.

Honestly, I'm not even sure this is siding with the lobbyists. I think he (or more likely whoever he appointed at the EPA, I bet this never even got to Bush's desk) glanced at the papers, saw one wanted 70 and one wanted 80--and said, "Great, 75, now let's go home." Apathy in a soon-to-end administration can be even more powerful than earning/repaying favors.