In the letter, Waxman, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee gives a hint that the investigation will likely soon escalate to subpoenas. “In prior investigations, the Committee has allowed counsel representing the agency to be present during transcribed interviews. In this case, since your own conduct is being examined, this accommodation would not be appropriate, although counsel employed by the agency may participate if they certify that their presence is as counsel for the witness,” he wrote.

I’m sure the explanation for all of this is not corrupt or disgraceful. No sir. The full text of the letter is below the fold.

Dear Administrator Johnson:

On December 20, 2007, I wrote to request that you provide the Committee with documents relating to your decision to reject California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I requested that the documents be produced on a rolling schedule, starting on January 10 with responsive documents from your immediate office. On January 4 and January 11, 2008, your staff responded to my letter, but did not provide any documents.

I appreciate the efforts EPA is taking to collect responsive documents, but I am concerned about the failure of the agency to meet the Committee’s January 10 deadline. I am also concerned that no schedules for document production are proposed in your letters.

In an effort to accommodate the agency without unduly delaying the Committee’s investigation, I ask that your staff work with Committee staff to establish by the close of business on January 16 mutually agreeable deadlines for producing documents to the Committee.

The Committee will also be conducting transcribed interviews or depositions of agency staff who may have knowledge of the agency’s deliberations. As a first step in this process, I request that a schedule be established by the close of business on January 16 for the interview or deposition of the following officials:

Robert Meyers, Principal Deputy Assistant

Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation

Jason Burnett, Associate Deputy Administrator, Office of the Administrator

Margo Oge, Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Karl Simon, Director, Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Brian McLean, Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs

Dina Kruger, Director, Climate Change Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs

Rob Brenner, Director, Office of Program Analysis and Review

In prior investigations, the Committee has allowed counsel representing the agency to be present during transcribed interviews. In this case, since your own conduct is being examined, this accommodation would not be appropriate, although counsel employed by the agency may participate if they certify that their presence is as counsel for the witness. Attachments to this letter provide additional information about Committee interview and deposition procedures.

If you have any questions concerning this request, please have your staff contact Greg Dotson of the Committee staff at (202) 225-4407.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman
Chairman

Actually, the Department of Energy already produces numbers on greenhouse emissions, even state-by state numbers. But these are based on voluntary reporting and reliable estimates and formulas — there is no “mandatory reporting.”

So I would not panic, but this does appear to be a change for the worse. Congress is already making a bi-partisan war on America’s energy producers and consumers (i.e., everyone) with the Energy Bill they will pass today. It is only a matter of time before climate alarmism adds still more to the already expanding burden on everyone in the form of higher gasoline prices and electricity bills.

Look out! The regulations are coming!

There are indeed billions of dollars in allowances (though not all mandated subsidies) for nuclear energy programs. The amendment reads (PDF):

For Department of Energy expenses including the purchase, construction, and acquisition of plant and capital equipment, and other expenses necessary for nuclear energy activities in carrying out the purposes of the Department of Energy Organization Act including the acquisition or condemnation of any real proper ty or any facility or for plant or facility acquisition, construction, or expansion, and the purchase of not to exceed 20 passenger motor vehicles for replacement only, including one ambulance, $970,525,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That $233,849,000 is authorized to be appropriated for Project 99-D-143 Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility, Savannah River Site, South Carolina: Provided further, That the Department of Energy adhere strictly to Department of Energy Order 413.3A for Project 99-D-143.

Whew! So, what, exactly, does DOE Order 413.3A mandate? Well, here’s what the paper says (PDF):

To provide the Department of Energy (DOE), including the National Nuclear Security Administration, with project management direction for the acquisition of capital assets with the goal of delivering projects on schedule, within budget, and fully capable of meeting mission performance, safeguards and security, and environmental, safety, and health standards.

Yup. Lots of money for nuclear energy, and it reeks of Steny Hoyer. That’s to say nothing of the smaller — but still substantial — sums that may end up dedicated to coal-to-liquid research. Also, as explained to me by a leadership aide, there will be no conference report for this package, thanks to an informal agreement by the chief appropriators in both bodies. Which means that unless an amendment striking this amendment can pass (and don’t count on it), this is going to go through. Sigh.

At the very least, Feinstein and Boxer managed to get this in:

Of the funds provided in the Environmental Programs and Management Account, not less than $3,500,000 shall be provided for activities to develop and publish a draft rule no later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and a final rule no later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, to require mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions above appropriate thresholds in all sectors of the economy of the United States.

This is actually quite significant — not the money itself, but what the money is dedicated to: A requirement that the EPA use its power under the Clean Air Act to require companies to report their greenhouse-gas emissions. Some companies do this voluntarily already, but the mandate will clarify who and what, exactly, are the real-world sources of global warming pollution, and, more importantly, provide critical data to whatever agency eventually is appointed to oversee a cap-and-trade program. It’s extremely valuable information, and may prove crucial if we’re to avoid some of the confusion that characterized the EU’s carbon trading program.

That’s a bit of good news, and is sure to rankle the easily-rankled John Dingell — who is known to be, shall we say, a bit possessive of this issue. Still, this isn’t the omnibus bill you’d want to take home to meet your environmentalist mother … or something like that. Assuming it passes, it will be sent back to the House for a final vote, and then it’s off to the White House.

Now comes word from Friends of the Earth that “the omnibus spending bill expected to come before the House of Representatives tonight and the Senate tomorrow directs $20.5 billion in loan guarantees to nuclear power and $8 billion to the coal industry, with language that includes potential subsidies for the production of coal-to-liquid fuels.”

That’s (utterly unnecessary) spending on dirty energy at a rate about four times as large as (utterly crucial) spending on clean energy. So it’s no surprise that environmental groups are coming out against it.

I’ll be making inquiries about this tonight and tomorrow, but early word is that these handouts come from … Democrats in Congress! If that’s true, and the bill makes it through the House unchanged, then it’s very unlikely that the money will be stripped from the bill before it’s passed. Stay tuned in between futile bouts of wincing/screaming/crying into your beer.

Others may have switched. I’ll post the full roll call when it’s up.