EPA criticized for findings based on politics, not science

A White House memo has created a firestorm after it criticized the Environmental Protection Agency's classification of greenhouse gas as a public health threat and warned that regulation of CO2 will result in "serious economic consequences" for businesses and the economy.

The document from the Office of Management and Budget questions the EPA's April assessment because it claims it was not based on a thorough examination of costs and benefits and falls short on solid scientific findings.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., exposed the "smoking gun" after he received a nine-page memo marked "Deliberative: Attorney-Client Privilege."

He presented the document to Lisa P. Jackson, EPA administrator, at a Tuesday hearing of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

"Council in this administration repeatedly, repeated questions the lack of scientific support that you have for this proposed finding," he told Jackson. "Your findings were political, not scientific."

He read from the memo. "There is a concern that the EPA is making a finding based on harm from substances that have no demonstrated direct health effects, such as respiratory or toxic effects," it stated.

On multiple occasions, the document questions the EPA's judgment in determining that greenhouse gases endanger public health.

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