As suspected, U.S. EPA employees last year told agency Administrator Stephen Johnson that California had “compelling and extraordinary conditions” that would justify a federal waiver allowing the state to limit greenhouse-gas emissions from autos, according to EPA documents reviewed by Senate staffers this week. Nonetheless, Johnson denied the state that waiver in December. The EPA wanted to keep the incriminating documents out of the public sphere, but staffers for California Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) released the information. Boxer has a Senate hearing on the matter scheduled for today, at which Johnson is expected to testify — and be roasted.
