Congress

Uncertainty surrounding the ability of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to recover Superfund cleanup costs will likely continue regardless of how the Supreme Court rules in the just-argued suit, United States v. Atlantic Research Corp., observers say.

As a result, Congress will almost certainly have to consider the issue following the court's ruling, an option that key lawmakers and industry officials are already considering.

House Democrats are increasing pressure on the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) to reveal how the administration drafted a recent executive order giving the administration more power over EPA and other agencies' regulatory decisions and who was consulted in the drafting process.

Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), who chairs the House Science & Technology oversight subcommittee, promised at an April 26 oversight hearing to request documents on the issue and to hold additional future hearings to address concerns that the order scales back transparency.

A proposal to create a federal trust fund to absolve property owners of some cleanup liability for dormant contaminated sites is facing some early hurdles, with supporters acknowledging it will likely face a cool reception on Capitol Hill where Democrats may view it as a corporate buyout, opposition from trial lawyers because it limits future toxic tort suits and caution from industry because of remaining uncertainties.

Democratic lawmakers are probing a more than $15,000 bonus EPA paid to acting inspector general (IG) Bill Roderick in 2006 as they expand their ongoing investigation into a controversial Bush administration plan to cut 30 full-time IG office staff and trim the IG office's budget by $5.1 million in fiscal year 2008.