John Siciliano reports for the Washington Examiner on questions surrounding recent plans from federal environmental regulators.
Republicans are prodding the Environmental Protection Agency over its plans to embed agency employees in countries in an effort to help other nations meet the requirements of the international climate change deal President Obama agreed to last month.
The lawmakers say the plan raises questions over how many employees will be sent and how much it will cost the U.S. taxpayer.
They also ask whether the EPA has the authority to do this, given the non-binding nature of the Paris deal and that it was never approved by Congress, according to a draft of a letter slated to be sent Thursday to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy ahead of the Republican retreat. …
… The letter was led by Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who sits on three House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittees. The letter also includes the three chairmen of respective subcommittees, including: Oversight and Investigations subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy, R-Penn., Environment subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus, R-Ill., and Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess, R-Texas.
“It is alarming to hear that the administration plans to deploy American employees around the world to carry out a non-binding agreement,” Rep. Mullin said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
He also raised the issue of placing agency employees in harm’s way if sent overseas, and the need for a plan to guard against unforeseen dangers.
