Baucus threatens subpoena for EPA documents
2007-08-09
Source: The Western News
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency arrived in Libby Monday to a contingent of regional media, a frustrated senator and some outspoken residents.
email this
print this
del.icio.us
digg this
rss feedTwo bodyguards and a layer of media agents escorted EPA Administrator Steven Johnson into a city hall conference room where Sen. Max Baucus and residents demanded to know why toxicity studies have not been completed and why the federal government decided not to declare Libby a Public Health Emergency.
"I think it's critical that the people of Libby get justice," Baucus said.
The senator noted that the EPA made a "big mistake" by never having done the studies when remediation efforts began five years ago.
Baucus also cited a 2002 St. Louis Post Dispatch article that alleged the White House denied the EPA's request to declare a Public Health Emergency in Libby.
Baucus asked Johnson to promise to provide the documents relating to that decision.
"Otherwise, I'm going to have to pursue a subpoena. The people of Libby deserve to have those documents," Baucus said.
