Waxman blasts EPA for missing deadline

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is strongly criticizing the EPA’s failure to produce documents regarding its decision to reject California’s effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

{mosads}The lawmaker, who chairs the Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs, had asked EPA for the documents in December and requested that their delivery begin on Jan. 10.

“I appreciate the efforts EPA is taking to collect responsive documents, but I am concerned about the failure of the agency to meet the Committee’s January 10 deadline,” Waxman said in a letter Monday to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. “I am also concerned that no schedules for document production are proposed in your letters.”

The lawmaker is calling on the agency to develop a release schedule with his staff.

Waxman also informed the EPA that he wants to conduct transcribed interviews or depositions with seven agency officials regarding agency deliberations that led to the controversial decision.

The California rule would have regulated emissions from cars, trucks and SUVs but was rejected by the EPA, which said that a patchwork of state laws would not help reduce greenhouse gasses.

California has sued over EPA’s decision.