EPA Online Forum and all that is pablum to print

onNov 1, 2007 @ 12:26 PDT

So, as we expected, no real question and no real answers so far in the “Ask EPA” online discussion today.

The beauty of such forums is the total control of questions that are posted and responded to, and the EPA‘s online forum today is, so far, a great example of that.

No questions posted yet on the State of California’s petition to the EPA on regulating greenhouse gas emissions for new vehicles and by the looks of the beachballs being tossed to the EPA director, I expect none will be forthcoming.

Here’s a hard-hitting question from Paul in Denver:

This is a great forum, thank you for offering this.

Questions:
1.) Is the topic for this Thursday limited to only the stated topic, or will questions on other environmental topics be fielded?
2.) How frequently will these forums be held and how will the topics be assigned?
3.) Is the 3:00 p.m. start time = 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time zone?

UPDATE: here’s another softball, who’s submitting this stuff? FEMA staff?

From: David
In: Region 2
Question: How many EPA folks does it take to change a light bulb? Although I framed the question in the traditional joke format, I am sincerely asking how many folks does EPA have committed to this very worthwhile and apparently successful endeavor?

Administrator Johnson:
That’s an excellent question – and one I didn’t know off the top of my head, so we quickly phoned one of our experts. Turns out, the Energy Star program, which is actually a joint venture between EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy, is staffed by 65 personnel. So it’s not a huge program, but it has a tremendous reach.

Today, that little blue Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products and buildings. And more impressively, last year, Energy Star helped Americans save about $14 billion on their energy bills, while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 25 million vehicles. So, it’s with the help of people like you, David, that we are getting Energy Star products off the store shelves and into people’s homes, businesses and schools around the world.

UPDATE 2: Finally!

From: Leetie
In: Northern VA
Question: Why, when EPA wants to promote clean energy solutions, is it holding up the decision to allow California (and eleven other states to follow) to enforce stricter emissions standards? Wouldn’t that prompt auto manufacturers to move forward on better and cleaner technology? Wouldn’t that make a significant and swift impact on greenhouse gases in the environment?

Stephen L. Johnson:
EPA is following the legally mandated process for evaluating California’s petition and doing so in an expeditious yet responsible way. My commitment to Governor Schwarzenegger is to finish the analysis and make a decision by the end of the year.

Here’s the questions I’ve submitted. Had to claim I was from Washington, DC, because it the submission column made it mandatory to submit a city and state:

Q: If the EPA is mandated with protecting the environment why would it hold up and delay new regulations being proposed by a State that wants to protect the environment?

Q: When can we expect a ruling on California’s application? What does Johnson think of the state’s lawsuit?

Q: While California and other states are suing the EPA, the State Department has cited their efforts to significantly lower heat-trapping gases (18% by 2020) as positive examples of U.S. action on climate change. Doesn’t EPA‘s failure to give these states a final go-ahead undercut the State Department’s diplomacy?

By Kevin Grandia

Kevin is a contributor and strategic adviser to DeSmog. He runs the digital marketing agency Spake Media House. Named a “Green Hero” by Rolling Stone Magazine and one of the “Top 50 Tweeters” on climate change and environment issues, Kevin has appeared in major news media outlets around the world for his work on digital campaigning. Kevin has been involved in the public policy arena in both the United States and Canada for more than a decade. For five years he was the managing editor of DeSmogBlog.com. In this role, Kevin’s research into the “climate denial industry” and the right-wing think tank networks was featured in news media articles around the world. He is most well known for his ground-breaking research into David and Charles Koch’s massive financial investments in the Republican and tea party networks. Kevin is the first person to be designated a “Certified Expert” on the political and community organizing platform NationBuilder. Prior to DeSmog, Kevin worked in various political and government roles. He was Senior Advisor to the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and a Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Foreign Affairs for the Government of Canada. Kevin also worked in various roles in the British Columbia provincial government in the Office of the Premier and the Ministry of Health. In 2008 Kevin co-founded a groundbreaking new online election tool called Vote for Environment which was later nominated for a World Summit Award in recognition of the world’s best e-Content and innovative ICT applications. Kevin moved to Washington, DC in 2010 where he worked for two years as the Director of Online Strategy for Greenpeace USA and has since returned to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada.