POSTED BY: Laura Olah, Executive Director Citizens for Safe Water
Around Badger (CSWAB) www.cswab.org Wednesday, September 13, 2006
6. EPA: Sen. Boxer vows to block IG nominee Darren Samuelsohn,
Greenwire senior reporter Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) vowed today to
block the confirmation of President Bush's nominee to be the next U.S.
EPA inspector general. Speaking to reporters, Boxer said she planned to
place a hold on the EPA nominee, Alex Beehler, because of his record as
a top Defense Department environmental official. "There's thousands and
thousands of people who could be in a better position to take this job,"
Boxer said. "I don't see the match here." Boxer complained during
Beehler's confirmation hearing in the Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee that DOD had taken positions during the Bush
administration in opposition to the protection of public health.
Specifically, Boxer questioned DOD efforts to gain exemptions from
environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.
She also challenged Beehler's role overseeing DOD's cleanup of
perchlorate, a solid propellant for rockets and missiles, and
trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent. Bush nominated Beehler
earlier this summer to run EPA's independent oversight office, which
includes more than 300 auditors, investigators and scientists. The IG
office under its previous appointee, Nikki Tinsley, provided a critical
perspective on many of the Bush administration's environmental policies,
including air regulations and Superfund cleanups. While Beehler has won
support from EPW Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Boxer's
opposition could be enough to stymie confirmation. Inhofe's panel is
scheduled to vote next Wednesday on Beehler's nomination, as well as
Roger Martella, Bush's pick to serve as EPA general counsel.