From The Washington Free Beacon, Lachlan Markay. Press release follows.
Internal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emails show extensive collaboration between top agency officials and leading environmentalist groups, including overt efforts to coordinate messaging and pressure the fossil fuel industry.
The emails, obtained by the Energy and Environment Legal Institute (EELI) through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, could fuel an ongoing controversy over EPA policies that critics say are biased against traditional sources of energy.
Emails show EPA used official events to help environmentalist groups gather signatures for petitions on agency rulemaking, incorporated advance copies of letters drafted by those groups into official statements, and worked with environmentalists to publicly pressure executives of at least one energy company.
Nancy Grantham, director of public affairs for EPA Region 1, which covers New England, asked an organizer for the Sierra Club’s New Hampshire chapter to share the group’s agenda so EPA could adjust its messaging accordingly in an email dated March 12, 2012.
“If you could, it would great [sic] if you can send me an email describing what you would like to do in early April in NH–that way I can coordinate messaging with our air offices here and at HQ,” Grantham wrote.
Critics of the agency and its nonprofit allies were surprised by the cooperation.
“The level of coordination in these documents is shocking,” EELI said in a statement.
http://freebeacon.com/emails-show-extensive-collaboration-between-epa-environmentalist-orgs/
=============================================================
For Immediate Release:
January 14, 2014
Contact:
Craig Richardson
703-981-5553
Plans by EPA and Sierra Club to cripple coal industry exposed by FOIA Documents Obtained as a Result of E&E Legal FOIA Request
Washington, D.C. — A 2012 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal), under its former name, the American Tradition Institute, has produced several hundred documents affirming the uncomfortably close working relationship between the current U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) and activist left-wing environmental groups in their effort to make abundant energy resources, particularly coal, much more scarce in America.
These records come in a series of productions in litigation spawned by two specific FOIA requests — a lawsuit filed after an EPA FOIA specialist admitted she and her colleague were instructed to do no work on the requests, as EELI counsel Chris Horner attested in a sworn affidavit. Mostly e-mails between EPA top officials and the Sierra Club, the records illustrate how certain EPA employees with backgrounds working for green pressure groups serve as liaisons to those groups in advancing a shared agenda. Other documents affirm the close advisory role the pressure groups play in key EPA actions, like EPA’s recently published New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new coal-fired plants.
This collaboration takes place in many forms: emails providing, e.g., a list of coal plants the green groups insist any EPA standards block from coming or staying on-line, meetings at EPA and at the green groups’ offices where EPA comes to brief them, frequent conference calls, and at the Starbucks at Washington’s J.W. Marriott, across the street from EPA.
The latter is reminiscent of the Caribou Coffee revelations about this most transparent, White House, in history arranging off-site meetings with other lobbyists to avoid signing them in to the building (see, e.g., New York Times reportage of this subterfuge, here.)
The level of coordination in these documents is shocking, showing, for example, Sierra Club strategizing with EPA’s former green group activists, and other senior Obama appointees, about killing the coal and coal-fired electricity industries, even sharing a joke in one particular email saying EPA administrator Gina McCarthy had her “pants on fire” when assuring those parties they would remain viable under EPA’s regulations.
The e-mails show the central players to be two EPA officials who worked in the agency’s policy office at the time of the e-mails, Michael Goo (former legislative director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) who left EPA for a senior Department of Energy post), Alex Baron, and EPA senior counsel Joe Goffman (a former EDF lawyer). They all work closely with John Coequyt, who heads the Sierra Club’s “Beyond Coal” campaign.
In one e-mail Coequyt sent to Goo and Barron, he said,
“Attached is a list of plants that companies said were shelved because of uncertainty around GHG [greenhouse gas] regulations. If a standard is set that these plants could meet, there is a small chance that they [sic] company could decide to revive the proposal.”
Coequyt is clearly signaling that that if the EPA sets achievable standards, proposed power plants on hold as the new standards are developed could ultimately be built, which is contrary to his group’s agenda.
Last week, the EPA finally released their New Source Performance Standards, four months after first announcing them.. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy (ACCCE), which plans to take the EPA to court over the new regulations, questioned what EPA was up to during those four months that it took the agency to post its NSPS.
Numerous other emails show close collaboration on EPA public hearings to generate support for the rule.
“ACCCE asks a very relevant question, if one that EPA’s own mail answers,” added Horner, the lawyer handling the lawsuit. “After reviewing the e-mails between one of the chief outside organizations in the war on coal, and their allies in the EPA, it’s clear that this process was one of trying to develop standards to kill the future of coal in America. And being less than honest about it, even according to their own allies in candid moments.”
Released documents as a result of E&E Legal’s FOIA request include:
· CCS PERMIT NEED, SO2 ROLLOUT.pdf
· COLLABORATION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS.pdf
· DOING EACH OTHERS HOMEWORK.pdf
· EPA COMING TO GREENS TO BRIEF.pdf
· GENERAL RE CLOSENESS: ALIGNMENT.pdf
· GREEN GROUPS AS PRIORITY PARTNERS.pdf
· MUST KILL COAL PRODUCTIONS.pdf
· PARTNERS ON CAIR: TRANSPORT.pdf
The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal) is a 501(c)(3) organization engaged in strategic litigation, policy research, and public education on important energy and environmental issues. Primarily through its petition litigation and transparency practice areas, E&E Legal seeks to correct onerous federal and state policies that hinder the economy, increase the cost of energy, eliminate jobs, and do little or nothing to improve the environment.
-30-
Discover more from Watts Up With That?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Dave in Canmore says:
January 15, 2014 at 6:29 pm
….Where is your justice department?….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You mean Attorney General Eric Holder who Is Protecting JPMorgan Chase NYC From Criminal Investigation? The same guy whose Justice Department Organized the Trayvon Martin Protests and after they didn’t hang a “white” in the trial … is investigating whether to file civil rights charges against Zimmerman? And this entire media circus orchestrated by the Justice Department was all because Obama decided to make the “White” Zimmerman an example of White Racism to win himself votes just before the last election (Another OOPs since Zimmerman isn’t white but of mixed race, his mother is from Peru with a grandfather who is black. You would think that Obama’s handlers would do a bit of investigation wouldn’t you? But no matter the MSM will dig a hole and bury the facts.)
robinhood21067 says: @ur momisugly January 15, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Dave in Canmore, Opposition party? Are you kidding me? …
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
An excellent article is America’s Ruling Class with a similar article by Jo Nova’s hsband, Dr Evans Climate Coup – The Politics Dr. Evans calls them the Regulating Class. Scott Rasmussen calls them the Political Class Biggest Loser of 2013: the Political Class (I sure hope he is correct.) Now we just have to come up with some “Honest Politicians” we can vote FOR. I am getting really sick of voting for “the lesser of two evils” who actually as different as Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.
Reg Nelson says: @ur momisugly January 15, 2014 at 8:19 pm
There needs to be some punitive damages for taxpayer funded organizations, like the EPA, that fight FOIA requests and lose in court….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Unfortunately the government is a protected species. It has to give YOU permission to sue it.
Knowing that think about those Green Lawsuits….
Russ R. says: @ur momisugly January 15, 2014 at 9:34 pm
… Show me one person harmed by a miniscule increase in a life-sustaining molecule. That should be required, to prove standing. An actual injury, that can be linked to the substance in question….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How about the 65 deaths a day in the UK?…
OH, that is because “people die during winter because they can’t afford to heat their homes properly.” but I am sure the US EPA can manage to say that is because of Climate Change. After all Obama’s Science Czar managed to say the cold temperatures here in the USA were caused by Climate Change. The White House gets into the ‘polar vortex’ climate change blame business
(I really shouldn’t give the EPA ideas.)
Say goodbye to your 501(c)(3) status …
Jimbo says: @ur momisugly January 16, 2014 at 12:25 am
…I hope I’m wrong.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If I could figure out what country to flee to I would be gone in a flash, however the rot is world wide so instead I will stay here and fight.
So, what’s with all the redactions, already? Is this the EPA or the CIA?
Alan Watt, Climate Denialist Level 7 says:
January 16, 2014 at 5:25 am
The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal) is a 501(c)(3) organization engaged in strategic litigation, policy research, and public education on important energy and environmental issues.
Say goodbye to your 501(c)(3) status …
***************************************************************************************************************************
What is your bet on soon the goons come knocking?
Does, the parliament in the USA have something equivalent to a royal commission, a judicial enquiry with the power to compel answers. If so I think those readers that are US citizens should be demanding their government conduct a “Royal Commission” into the activities of their EPA and possibly the FDA as well to root out corruption, and prosecute the wrongdoers.
No surprise. It will also be no surprise when the MSM ignores the story (and they have so far been ignoring it).
dbstealey says: @ur momisugly January 16, 2014 at 12:40 am
….People forget that we are the United States. As defined by the 10th Amendment….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That was “Fixed” in two different ways.
First the Senate was supposed to represent the interest of the states. Under the original provisions of the Constitution, senators were elected by state legislatures. The Seventeenth Amendment established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. It was ratified in 1913 along with the Sixteenth Amendment allowing the Congress to levy an income tax and the Federal Reserve Act that set-up a Central Bank with Fractional Reserve Banking practices. 1913 was definitely an unlucky year for the American people since it consolidated power in the Federal Government and gave a handful of bankers the purse strings with the ability to print money out of thin air that they then loaned to the government.
The second fix follows from the changes made in the US government in 1913.
Another source shows states getting about 1/2 their revenue from the Federal government. State gets close to half of revenue from feds
Can you say BRIBES?
Giselle documents the USDA’s bribes to states in the matter of the National Animal Identification System that the UN and WTO want. These are called “Cooperative Agreements” link (See sidebar for individual agreements by state)
Interesting graph: Type of Tax as a Share of Federal Revenues, 1934 – 2011
No doubt it was low level EPA employees who transferred over from low level jobs at IRS or NSA. I won’t use the word gate here but I will use the word impeach.
Gail you hit the nail on the head. Time for you to head for high ground–I’ll see you there!
bobl says: @ur momisugly January 16, 2014 at 6:05 am
Does, the parliament in the USA have something equivalent to a royal commission….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We have Congressional Investigations but they do not do much good. (Note this all happened under Bush so the party in control does not matter)
First let me make it clear that the USDA is on board the UN Agenda 21/Sustainability and CAGW train. SEE – USDA: sustainable partnerships this website includes pointers to things like Green Infrastructure Community of Practice
This is from an old investigation so the links may be dead. However it is the example that made me a cynic, contemptuous of the US government and ultimately lead me to WUWT.
THE PROBLEM
So we have a problem with both the FDA and the USDA not doing their jobs. Unfortunately these are just two of many “incidents” handle in such a way that transnational corporations are not “inconvenienced”. Stanley Painter, Chairman of the National Food Inspection Unions, stated in his testimony at the congressional hearing on the Hallmark Dower Cows:
SRM removal regulations concern brain and spine removal to prevent BSE. The USDA has refused to allow a small private processing plant to do 100% BSE testing
Source: http://www.r-calfusa.com/News%20Releases/Archives/032406-r-calf.htm
Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/29/america/NA-GEN-US-Mad-Cow.php
The USDA “Investigated” Stan Painters “Allegations” and found them basesless. The USDA kiss-off:
GEE, this public hearing in which the USDA dis-invited Stan Painter and his Inspectors seems to show there WAS a problem swept under the rug. Imagine that.
Here is the follow up. Glad to see there was some justice. (NOTE: Painter is the head of a union which helps.)
A bit more on the USDA’s total disregard for the safety of the American consumer.
So our borders are wide open to diseased cattle. From the Texas government report of 2009.
The USA exports 700,000 tons of quality beef while importing 1,500,000 tons from countries with: Naegleria fowler, Encephalitis, Vesicular Stomatitis viruses, Leptospirosis, Trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), and foot and mouth disease. The US imports 2.5 million live cattle from Canada with BSE (now found in USA) and from Mexico with tuberculosis (now found in USA), brucellosis (now found in USA) cattle tick fever, (now found in USA) Trypanosoma cruz,, (now found in USA), Bluetongue (now found in USA), and Vesicular stomatitis. (I will spare you the investigation into that information)
This is the response of the USDA – closing down testing labs.
The USDA is now depending on “Traceability’ instead of testing for disease or quarantine at the borders. The three years after the FDA/USDA changed the food safety regs to the international HACCP regs compared to the three years before showed a doubling of the food borne illness in the USA.
Anthony, your site did a nice job keeping people up to speed on Climategate, providing hundreds of useful links in the process.
It strikes me that WUWT might serve a similar purpose here, spreading the news of EPA corruption that the mainstream media is likely to ignore, while linking to valuable sources that provide additional, possibly incriminating, details. You might even attract some whistleblowers in the process.
I hope you stay on this one. The EPA is a rat’s nest that’s needed cleaning out for a long time now.
Not on subject but: Per the EIA (Energy Info Agency) the 2nd week of Jan. Natural Gas net draw from storage was 287 Billion cu. ft. This is a record draw for any week of the heating season for the past 21 seasons. The second highest record 285 B cu ft was the second week of Dec 2013 also this season. The previous record draw was 266 billion cu ft the 2nd week of Jan 2010. Any time the draw exceeds 200 B Cu Ft It usually correlates with a negative temperature anomaly in the US for that week.
The following link provides access to a XL storage history spread sheet link.
http://ir.eia.gov/ngs/ngs.html
nicholas tesdorf says:
The administration of President Obama and President Obama himself appear to be the most corrupt in all American history. This distortion of science and history in pursuit of a political agenda is frightening and there appears to be no will to remove it, amongst the general population.
Repeated for effect.
All – Left the following at Tips and Notes, bears repeating in this thread. Link to Gina McCarthy’s (EPA Top Administrator) presentation today 16 JAN 14 to Congress:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/fe40a46647a6007f85257c6200564c15!OpenDocument
And the driving statement excerpted for your reading pleasure:
“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Based on the evidence, more than 97% of climate scientists are convinced that human-caused climate change is occurring. If our changing climate goes unchecked, it will have devastating impacts on the United States and the planet. Reducing carbon pollution is critically important to the protection of Americans’ health and the environment upon which our economy depends.”
Take away: The fight is not over, by a long shot. For all we hope and all we want for truth to prevail, the Big Lie continues – at the highest posts of the current administration. We must be ever vigilant unbtil truth prevails.
Michael C. Roberts
It’s also rather obvious that the same advocacy groups supply the President’s speeches and press releases.
The U.S. is now the only country that still has the grand jury system whose function is to root out government corruption and protect the public from corruption.
Maybe a grand jury investigation is needed in this situation and perhaps only minor figures can be caught but this will bring things out in the open for public exposure.
I hope you are in favor of (and working to support) Levin’s proposal (which is based on Article 5 of the Constitution) vis-a-vis “States Should Call Convention to Propose Amending Constitution”
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/mark-levin-states-should-call-convention-propose-amending-constitution
Some of the constitutional amendments Levin would like to see include:
– imposing a 12-year limit on serving in Congress,
– returning the election of U.S. senators to state legislatures,
– requiring Congress to balance the budget and
– limiting federal spending to 17.5 percent of GDP,
– limiting federal taxation to 15 percent of an individual’s or a corporation’s earnings,
– empowering a special congressional committee to veto regulations issued by federal bureaucracies,
– prohibiting Congress from compelling anyone to participate in commerce (such as forcing them to buy health insurance),
– requiring Congress to publish the final text of any proposed legislation at least 30 days before holding a final vote on it, and
– requiring individuals to present a state-issued photo ID that establishes their identity and citizenship before they are allowed to register or vote.
.
The very same thing is happening in Canada, with our Ministry of Environment. This scam is world wide. It all leads back, to Agenda 21.
Dipchip-
I agree with the main thrust of your nat. gas v. tempurature point, however, the effects of the recent large increases in gas-fired electric generation have to be considered.
Russ R. says:
January 15, 2014 at 10:13 pm
==========================================================================
Russ, the EPA was not always like this. When I began doing contract work in mobile source pollution for them in 1971, they were a small group with a big job to control real air pollution – lead, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. The engineering solutions were what mattered.
Then in mid-1980’s I started noticing a change: the political implications started to become as important as the engineering. By the end of 1990’s politics was all that mattered. The EPA broke its own rules for issuing regulations, and made up data to justify those regulations.
They had become a mature government agency.
_Jim says: @ur momisugly January 16, 2014 at 10:46 am
I hope you are in favor of (and working to support) Levin’s proposal (which is based on Article 5 of the Constitution) vis-a-vis “States Should Call Convention to Propose Amending Constitution”…
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes _Jim, I am. I would also love to see ten or more years of local, state and federal legislatures going through all the laws and regulations and tossing 80% of them on the dung heap.
Do we really need another 8000 plus pages of new federal regulations? ( Photo 213 Federal Register) Caption: “”Behold my display of the 2013 Federal Register. It contains over 80,000 pages of new rules, regulations, and notices all written and passed by unelected bureaucrats. The small stack of papers on top of the display are the laws passed by elected members of Congress and signed into law by the president.” ~ Sen. Mike Lee
That is really sad.
Heck I would be happy to just start with a READ the BILL law and the making of laws via the Federal Register completely illegal.