SCIENCE VS THE EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided “largely non-responsive” documents in response to a final threat by House Democrats, according to House Science committee staff, likely setting the stage for a subpoena.
The EPA had until Tuesday to provide the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee with internal materials related to one of its chemical programs and to make an agency representative available for an interview. While the agency provided the committee with documents by the committee’s deadline, staffers on the panel say the materials were not adequate — keeping open the door to a lingering subpoena fight.
“After staff review we feel that the letter we received last night on our [Integrated Risk Information System] request was largely non-responsive,” a committee aide told The Hill Wednesday.
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The committee was looking for documents related to an EPA decision to limit the study of the health effects of formaldehyde and nine other chemicals. Formaldehyde is linked with leukemia and other health problems.
Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice JohnsonEddie Bernice JohnsonOvernight Energy: Science committee staff dismiss EPA response after subpoena threat | Iowa pushes EPA to change ethanol plan | Bill Gates talks climate on Capitol Hill EPA offered ‘non responsive’ documents to House panel following subpoena threat, staff says Democrats say they’re waiting for nearly 50 requests for Trump info on science, environment MORE (D-Texas) previously warned EPA Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerOvernight Energy: Science committee staff dismiss EPA response after subpoena threat | Iowa pushes EPA to change ethanol plan | Bill Gates talks climate on Capitol Hill EPA offered ‘non responsive’ documents to House panel following subpoena threat, staff says Overnight Energy: EPA watchdog slams agency chief after deputy fails to cooperate in probe | Justices wrestle with reach of Clean Water Act | Bipartisan Senate climate caucus grows MORE in an Oct. 29 letter that he had one “final” chance to respond to outstanding records requests by the panel before she moved to take action to compel the agency to hand over the documents.
Members of the committee, which has jurisdiction over EPA, have complained of months of feet-dragging by EPA and instances of outright refusal to respond to records and interview requests with agency officials.
“The agency has made claims of privilege on an item of interest and has flooded this committee with thousands of irrelevant documents while positioning itself as fully responsive to my requests,” Johnson wrote in her October letter.
“The committee is now prepared to issue subpoenas for the requested materials should the agency fail to meet the deadlines outlined in this letter.”
Yet EPA’s response letter, dated Nov. 5, largely pushed back against the insinuation that the administration was not being responsive to congressional oversight requests.
“The nature of the committee’s letter and the manner in which you have suggested a compulsory process for certain information is unnecessary and exceeds the bounds of any well-established accommodation process,” Joseph Brazauskas, an EPA associate administrator, wrote to the committee.
Read more about the fight here.
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LATEST IN ETHANOL BATTLE: Iowa’s senators and governor are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to abandon its plans to use a formula that corn farmers argue won’t ensure ethanol is blended into the nation’s fuel supply.
The arcane process for adding ethanol to America’s gasoline allows small refineries to get an exemption if it would be a hardship to blend it in, but in theory, larger refineries are supposed to pick up that slack.
The formula unveiled by the agency last month would require refineries to add ethanol based on projections rather than the actual number of gallons exempted, something farmbelt states argued undercuts the ethanol program.
Many called the latest iteration a bait and switch by President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump encounters GOP resistance to investigating Hunter Biden Trump’s 2016 team sounds alarm as Democrats make gains Whistleblower lawyer sends cease and desist to White House over Trump’s attacks MORE and the EPA, who previously pledged to increase the number of gallons of ethanol refiners would blend in.
“Now, the way the rule was written and put out for public comment does not deliver on the same understanding I had leaving the Oval Office about what would be in the proposed rule,” Sen. Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyTrump encounters GOP resistance to investigating Hunter Biden GOP senators press State Department for Hunter Biden, Burisma records Senate fight derails bipartisan drug pricing bills MORE (R-Iowa) wrote in public comments to the EPA, adding that the agency does not have a good track record of making sure that the 15 billion gallons required by law are blended in.
The big picture: The oil industry and ethanol producers have been stuck in a tug of war over ethanol rules for months, leaving the White House square in the middle.
Though joined by other Midwest states with large farm communities, Iowa’s delegation has been pushing the hardest to change the policy, taking advantage of its status as a crucial election state.
“Plain and simple, if the market for biofuels does not trust EPA to implement the proposal President Trump negotiated, the market will not make investments in biofuels – a dangerous spiral for Iowa farmers and producers which will only lead to more plants closed and jobs lost in the heartland,” Sen. Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstOvernight Energy: Science committee staff dismiss EPA response after subpoena threat | Iowa pushes EPA to change ethanol plan | Bill Gates talks climate on Capitol Hill Iowa senators, governor push EPA to change plan on ethanol GOP lawmakers fear Trump becoming too consumed by impeachment fight MORE (R-Iowa) wrote in response to the proposal.
The EPA did not respond to request for comment.
More on the Iowa pushback here.
SPOTTED – BILL GATES: Microsoft founder Bill Gates was spotted in the Capitol Thursday, planning to meet with leaders of the newly formed Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.
Sen. Christopher CoonsChristopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsBill Gates visits Capitol to discuss climate change with new Senate caucus The Memo: ISIS leader’s death is no game-changer for Trump TYT’s Cenk Uygur rips Dems condemning Trump ‘lock him up’ chant: ‘Most feckless party’ ever MORE (D-Del.), one of the founders of the caucus, called Gates “one of the most significant innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders of the last 50 years and who is a major player in climate change and global development and poverty issues.”
The caucus, announced last month, has already added six new members and had its first meeting with several CEOs on Tuesday to discuss federal climate policy.
Coons said the meeting has no agenda, but he’s interested to hear Gates’s thoughts on what the country should be investing in and “what he thinks are promising technologies that could contribute to battling climate change.”
Coons on Thursday told CBS This Morning that the caucus would look for “low-hanging fruit” where they can build consensus. The caucus has agreed not to forward issues unless they earn approval from all eight members.
In the same interview, fellow caucus member Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyOvernight Energy: Science committee staff dismiss EPA response after subpoena threat | Iowa pushes EPA to change ethanol plan | Bill Gates talks climate on Capitol Hill Bill Gates visits Capitol to discuss climate change with new Senate caucus Supporters tout ‘Senator Warren’ after Romney refers to her as a professor in tweet MORE (R-Utah) said it was important for Republicans to take action on climate change because “we look a bit like Neanderthals.”
Read more on the visit here.
OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: The White House on Thursday sent its nomination for outgoing Energy Department Sec. Rick PerryRick PerryTop diplomat says Giuliani’s ‘campaign of lies’ took down veteran ambassador Trump sends nominee to replace Perry at Energy to the Senate Overnight Energy: Science committee staff dismiss EPA response after subpoena threat | Iowa pushes EPA to change ethanol plan | Bill Gates talks climate on Capitol Hill MORE‘s replacement to the Senate.
Nominee Dan Brouillette current serves as the deputy secretary at the Department of Energy.
Perry is expected to leave the department on Dec. 1, exiting under scrutiny for his involvement in dealing with Ukraine.
Read more here.
OUTSIDE (AND INSIDE) THE BELTWAY:
A ‘green interest rate?’ Fed digs into climate change economics, Reuters reports.
Interior to Offer Buyouts to Employees Tapped for Relocation, As Some Already Head for the Exits, Government Executive reports.
Fires Are Ravaging Brazil’s Pantanal, the World’s Largest Tropical Wetlands, Time reports.
PG&E expects more than $6B in wildfire costs, the Associated Press reports.