Inhofe Calls on E.P.A. for Increased Transparency in Rulemaking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE:
Contact:
Kristina Baum - 202.224.6176
Donelle Harder - 202.224.1282

Inhofe Calls on E.P.A. for Increased Transparency in Rulemaking

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today sent a letter to Gina McCarthy, administrator of the E.P.A. (EPA), requesting unredacted information to examine the influence of environmental advocacy groups, including but not limited to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and contractors on EPA's greenhouse gas rulemakings for power plants.

"While it is well known that these rules will have a devastating economic impact on state and local governments, businesses, and private citizens, very little is known about the amount of taxpayer dollars and Agency resources that have already gone into developing these rules," Chairman Inhofe said in the letter. "The extent of EPA's ongoing, close coordination with these groups and individuals and lack of transparency about expenditures in support of these rulemakings are unacceptable. These circumstances are especially concerning in light of the substantial public opposition, economic cost, legal challenges, and uncertain climate change benefits from these rules."

Information requested by May 11, 2015, is as follows:

All All emails, briefing materials, agendas, calendar entries, notes, or other documents concerning all communications between E.P.A. and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Sierra Club, the Clean Air Task Force, Professor Jody Freeman, Professor Richard Lazarus, Center for American Progress, and the American Lung Association since April 15, 2013 and the present date concerning EPA's suggested rules to regulate carbon emissions from new, modified, and existing power plants under section 111 of the Clean Air Act.

A liA list of all contractors and/or consultants hired by EPA, the date each contract was entered, a summary of each task performed by each contractor, and amounts paid by E.P.A. for each task, including modeling, analysis, technical support, drafting, review review, or public outreach in connection EPA's suggested rules to regulate carbon emissions from new, modified, and existing power plants under section 111 of the Clean Air Act.

All All analytical blueprints, meeting agendas, briefing materials, memoranda, presentations, and concurrence related documents created for or otherwise used in connection to EPA's intra-agency action development process, including but not limited to option section decisions, for the following suggested rules:

the Requirements of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units; Suggested Rule (signed March 27, 2012);

the Requirements of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units; Suggested Rule (signed September 20, 2013); and

the Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Unites; Suggested Rule (signed June 2, 2014).

###