Bush Trying To Dump Lead Air Pollution Limits

December 6th, 2006

Washington, D.C. - The Bush administration is considering dumping the Clean Air Act and writing it's own version that will reduce health standards that cut lead from gasoline.

The Bush administration is considering dumping the Clean Air Act and writing it's own version that will reduce health standards that cut lead from gasoline.

Last week, twenty-two labor leaders representing more than 10,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientists and engineers sent a letter to federal lawmakers criticizing the Bush administration's strictly voluntary climate policies.

The letter also called on Congress to approve a "prudent" policy to "abate and control greenhouse gas emissions."

Refineries have lobbied the White House for years to get rid of the Clean Air Act limits.

The Associated Press reports that a preliminary staff review released by the Environmental Protection Agency this week acknowledged the possibility of dropping the health standards for lead air pollution "given the significantly changed circumstances since lead was listed in 1976" as an air pollutant.

"This deregulatory effort cannot be defended," Waxman wrote EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson reports the AP.

The Carter administration began removing lead from gasoline in the 70's when it was listed as an air pollutant.