EPA head provides panel with non-answer answers

"Do you agree there is an endangerment to the public health and welfare of our country and the world [from green greenhouse emissions]," Committee Chairman Edward Markey asked again, in a slightly different way.

"The issue of endangerment under the Clean Air Act will have to be taken into consideration," Johnson said.

"Is it a danger, in your view?" Markey asked.

"It's a serious issue," Johnson said. "We will be laying out our position on endangerment."

Markey expressed astonishment that Johnson is the last "major environment minister" in the Western world to make up his mind.

At that point Johnson, who is the first career EPA employee to become administrator, may have longed for those days when he could quietly go about his job without being badgered by members of Congress. But he refused to budge. "The issue of endangerment is a legal term of art," he said. The question of whether greenhouse gas emissions "may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare," is currently under review by the agency.

"Your testimony is further evidence that the Bush administration is out-of-step with the science and the world," Markey responded.

"It would be impermissible of me to make a final determination without allowing the public notice and comment period to play out," Johnson said.

Johnson refused to be drawn out on a number of issues. He said the administration has no position on a proposal in Congress to strip the EPA of its authority to grant states a waiver to control greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The agency is currently considering a waiver request from California, which could hinge on the endangerement question.

"EPA doesn't have a view in defense of its own authority?" he was asked.

"It's up to Congress," Johnson said

He refused to say when concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would reach a dangerous "tipping" point. "I won't give you a number," Johnson said. "It's important for the nations of the world to get together to determine that target." Actually, there is general agreement on something above 450 parts/million, compared to the current 380 ppm.

Asked about a Government Accountability Office report that said EPA has missed 34 deadlines for upgrading appliance efficiency standards, Johnson replied, "I'll have to get back to you."

"We'd like to have a candid exchange," Representative Emanuel Cleaver, Democrat-Missouri, said at one point. "I'm not sure it's happening."

However, Johnson was clear and emphatic on one point. "Will the President sign a bill with enforceable [carbon] cap and trade?" he was asked by Representative Jay Inslee, Democrat-Washington.

"No," Johnson replied.

"If we're going to have a meaningful dialogue with the White House, that can't be an answer," Inslee said.