Environment Forum

“Where’s the beef behind this decision?” U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer asked, waving an empty white box labelled “EPA Documents” in front of California state officials and reporters at Los Angeles City Hall on Thursday.

The California Democrat, who chairs the Senate’s environment and public works committee, lashed out at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson during a field briefing for his decision last month to deny California’s attempt to set tough new standards for auto emissions.

“I know this is a little bit showbusiness, but I don’t know how else to make my point,” Boxer said as she turned the box upside down.

The showbusiness was lost on Johnson, since he declined to come to California to answer questions from the Senator and hear testimony from her allies. Boxer nevertheless insisted that an empty seat be left in the middle of the room to symbolize the absence of any EPA representative.

“The bottom line is the chair is empty, there is no excuse for this decision,” said Boxer.

Johnson has agreed to testify before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in Washington on Jan. 24, Boxer said.

During the briefing, Boxer heard testimony from California Attorney General Jerry Brown, California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols, Natural Resources Defense Council Senior Climate Advisor Fran Pavley, and Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope, all of whom side with Boxer on the issue.

Brown, who along with 15 other state attorneys general is suing EPA over its decision, said he couldn’t be sure whether the courts would act swiftly to decide the case.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if the case is till pending as Bush leaves town,” Brown said.