Senate committee expands powers of EPA ombudsman

Over strong objections by the Bush administration, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved legislation Wednesday giving broad new powers to the Environmental Protection Agency's ombudsman.

The legislation (S. 515), reported by voice vote without debate, would allow the ombudsman to issue subpoenas while investigating complaints or grievances. The independent ombudsman, who reports directly to the EPA administrator, would have a $3 million budget for each of the next two years, $4 million for each year from fiscal 2006 through 2009 and $5 million a year from fiscal 2010 through 2013.

While no members of the committee objected, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and acting Assistant Attorney General Jamie E. Brown announced their opposition in letters to Chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla. Whitman said the legislation would give the ombudsman "extraordinarily broad and intrusive investigatory powers" and hamper EPA's enforcement efforts.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is the bill's primary sponsor.