EPA head: Environmentalism isn't a spectator sport

In case you missed it, Lisa P. Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, appeared on the Jon Stewart show Thursday night, defending her agency and pushing back at congressional Republicans who want to bridle her regulatory authority.

"We have to remind the American people that environmentalism isn't a spectator sport," she told "The Daily Show" host known for his acerbic wit and liberal views.

Stewart took her to task for the agency's decision to slow down the decade-long process of tightening emissions of mercury and other pollutants at industrial sites that operate boilers. The boiler rule was postponed indefinitely last week. Environmentalists point to that decision and others as a sign of retreat by the Obama administration on environmental protection.

Stewart pitched a few softballs, though, asking Jackson if the Republican assertion that EPA regulation kills jobs was true, or whether there was a "happy medium."

"Can we not die but also they live?" he asked, referring to polluting factories.

"We can have a strong economy and a strong and healthy environment," Jackson said, noting that in the 40 years since the EPA was founded, the air is 60% cleaner while the nation's gross domestic product is up 207%

Stewart pressed her about stalled regulation, including the boiler rule. "We are committed to the rule; I know people are worried," Jackson said. "We will finalize the rule."

Watch more of the interview with the EPA administrator.

Related:

EPA chief criticizes GOP assault on greenhouse gas regulation

L.A. air pollution may endanger babies

-- Geoff Mohan

Photo: Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, during a 2009 appearance at Princeton University. Credit: Mel Evans/Associated Press

Comments

[Paul Taylor]

salem,
I live in West L.A., downwind from self-righteous liberal agitators. That's enough pollution for me that EPA won't control.

ECOPOLITICS

[affableman]

I guess Mike D. doesn't like clean air and water like the rest of us.

[Mike D]

Lisa Jackson's idea of Utopia is where there isn't one micron of pollution anywhere. Guess what? Mother Nature has her own ideas. That volcano in Iceland is spewing more pollution into the atmosphere in one week than every factory in the U.S. would release in 10 years. The EPA is doing nothing more than killing jobs that we desperately need. Thanks alot!

[salem]

Paul Taylor needs to move downwind of a coal power plant, or downstream of a mountain-top coal mine.

[Paul Taylor]

After 40 years of environmental regulatory controls and policy successes, America leads the world in environmental protection. So, let’s concede that our environmental regulatory system is now complete, and that most pollution problems are solved, or are under active management.

As the U.S. struggles through a third year of historic economic hardship with record unemployment, we don’t need any more costly environmental regulations. What we desperately need is a complimentary U.S. energy policy.