Midnight Regs: Pollution in National Parks And More!

by Jesse Nankin, ProPublica

We have more proposed and finalized regulations from the Bush administration to share. Six, to be precise.

Today's additions to our Midnight Regulations chart include rules that affect our national parks, the approval and labeling of genetically-modified food, and public access to information from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A rule from the Environmental Protection Agency seeks to change the way air pollution is measured in wilderness areas and in national parks. Rather than monitoring emissions in 3- and 24-hour intervals, pollution levels would be averaged over the year. The rule, critics say, could make it easier for oil refineries and other polluting energy producers to build plants near these cherished areas, and creates a loophole that could lead to greater pollution levels. According to the Washington Post, the proposed rule has not just incited controversy amongst environmentalists, but inside the EPA as well.

Also interesting are draft guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration for the commercialization of food products from animals that have been genetically re-engineered. The FDA is calling for a review process similar to what the agency requires for new drugs. But critics point out that the FDA plans to do the reviews behind closed doors. They also point to the proposal's lack of strict guidelines for labeling genetically-modified food.

As for HUD, the final rule prohibits employees from testifying or releasing documents requested by subpoena or under the Freedom of Information Act without approval from general counsel. But luckily, the rule also delegates the authority to approve such requests to more individuals within the Office of General Counsel.  

They're all now on our running list of midnight regulations.  And as always, here's how to ferret out midnight regs for yourself.

Comments

[research]

This is what happens and much worse, when you don't punish Presidential crimes.

We should he restrain himself?

There is no down side.

Unless you impeach.

[zippy2112]

doesn't congress have to vote on these issues before they become policy?

[RTIII]

Not often, no. They're "executive branch" decisions, mostly. Congress can always act, but it's mostly after the fact and takes a LOT of time - and it's often also hard to change regulations via law because of the barter system our -ahem- representatives engage in.
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[geobushono]

impeachment would have been so much easier. Thanks, Nancy.

[zippy2112]

doesn't congess have to vote on these issues before they become policy?

[RTIII]

Ya got that right.

OR, we could have failed to re-elect her in San Francisco. More people needed to send money to Cindy Sheehan's campaign - it only gathered just over a half million, not enough to get the media needed to really win. (Cindy got about 20% of the vote.)
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[SammyD]

a projected slight increase in air pollution in our National Parks is nothing compared to the damage being done to the plants, wildlife and ground water by the drug cartels growing pot in the parks.....this is hillarious....fix the problems that already exist instead of worrying about what might be......where are all you environmentalists? Oh,maybe you're buying the pot so we shouldn't take your source away. Where are all you tree huggers? Get your butts in gear and stop this in our parks now.

[fiberoptimist]

If pot were legal, the drug cartels wouldn't be growing in the National Parks. In fact, the whole black market would vanish overnight. Isn't that a more sensible solution?

[RTIII]

Right you are!
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[dfranz]

George is making sure his "legacy" remains intact. He has always wanted to be #1 and I believe there is no doubt that he will win the title of WORST PRESIDENT ever elected. One positive development is that I also believe that he will have completely destroyed the Bush family name and outside of a few states south of the Mason Dixon line a Bush will never be elected again. Sorry Jeb. Maybe you can make up a pretend government you can be in charge of because that's as close as you will ever come to being president of the United States. If you play your cards right might even be able to be the curator of the GW Bush Library.

[RTIII]

Don't wish for that shadow thing he called for yesterday - we might get it!

Frankly, I don't think people understand the incredible danger posed by this man (and these people) when he talks of a shadow government. If I were the incoming President, I'd ensure our intelligence agencies were watching this "shadow" Jeb wants because his brother and father have proven their willingness to break the law and violate the constitution - son more so than father...
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[shastaman]

What did W mean when he uttered the same reference in 2001? Cheney/ Rummy/ Bush sr. et al. It's so clear that the powers that actually run our show put on such a show , that we've come to believe we actually have a say! "another Pearl Harbor"? we got it too!

[Rick in Arizona]

The internet is a wonderful watchdog! Thanks for posting!

[peterfromcanada]

more damage for obama to undo; hasn't he got enough to do already?

[ChristianEcon.com]

Rightwingers tend to keep adults very busy.

[RTIII]

Yes. It seems clear to me that a key part of the R plan is/was to change so many things that a person can't keep track of them all, much less focus energies on any one issue...
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