Environmental Politics

Claiming costs to oil and gas industry would outweigh health benefits to Americans, the oil industry is going behind closed doors at the White House to convince President Obama to overrule his EPA's effort to tighten smog controls.

"A federal appeals court ruling that would require Clean Water Act permitting for stormwater runoff on logging roads has sparked a political backlash, leading to congressional action and possible Supreme Court intervention."

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it would again delay issuing a final limit on smog pollution opposed by manufacturers and many Republican lawmakers until the Obama administration has finished reviewing it."

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Governor's Office is refusing to make public correspondence between it and the oil and gas industry regarding potential new regulations on Marcellus Shale drilling operations."

"Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is more than just a supporter of his state's influential coal producers -- he's a full-fledged industry insider."

"The Obama administration will require that vehicle fleets average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, according to people with knowledge of the talks. That would mark a sharp increase in efficiency."

"Government officials in the Northern Mariana Islands violated ethics rules when they handed an almost $400,000 contract to the [island commonwealth's] former Commerce secretary's new company, according to the Department of Interior's inspector general."

"To call the Interior and Environment spending bill the House will debate this week partisan would be an understatement."

"A federal magistrate refused Wednesday to order the White House to provide BP PLC with emails by a former top adviser to President Barack Obama about the administration's response to last summer's massive Gulf oil spill."