Green Group Calls for Whitman's Resignation

April 6, 2001
Conservation advocacy group Friends of the Earth called\r\non EPA Administrator Christie Whitman to resign, saying her\r\ncredibility at home and abroad is lost.

Conservation advocacy group Friends of the Earth Wednesday called on EPA Administrator Christie Whitman to resign, saying her credibility at home and abroad is lost.

In a letter to Whitman, the group said President Bush''s decision to unilaterally remove the United States from the Kyoto climate change treaty negotiations, and the recent White House policy reversals on the regulation of carbon dioxide and arsenic in drinking water have compromised Whitman.

"First, the Bush Administration destroyed her credibility on climate change. Then, in an astounding blow to public health, Administrator Whitman sent standards for arsenic in drinking water back to 1942," said Brent Blackwelder, Friends of Earth president.

As a matter of conscience, the groups urged the former New Jersey governor to step down.

There was no immediate response from EPA.

Whitman has been wounded most severely by Bush''s decision to reject a campaign promise and not work to reduce carbon emissions from power plants.

Carbon emissions are blamed by many researchers for causing the global atmosphere to warm, resulting in increasingly erratic weather and threatening public health.

Whitman told American allies earlier this year that the administration would seek to change the limits on carbon, but in March, Bush said he changed his mind because of the current energy crisis.

Whitman on Tuesday met with European Union officials, telling them she stood firm with the administration''s decision to seek an alternative to the Kyoto treaty.

The pact includes provisions for major industrialized nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

Bush said the U.S. economy would be hurt by the Kyoto terms, and that it exempts 80 percent of the world from compliance.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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