EPA VOWED TO ISSUE FINE PARTICLE RULE PRIOR TO SENATE VOTE ON NOMINEES

Assurances by Bush administration officials that EPA would soon issue a rule to control fine particle pollution may have contributed to a behind-the-scenes deal that cleared the way for the Senate to confirm two nominees to head top spots at the agency, according to observers closely tracking the issue. Just prior to the Senate vote last month confirming EPA nominees Marcus Peacock as the agency's deputy administrator and Granta Nakayama to head the enforcement office, administration officials told Sen. James...