Critics contend EPA is routinely abusing its power

By MICHAL CONGER | SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Two sweeping environmental laws have given the Environmental Protection Agency power to influence policy at every level of government, raising concerns the agency has crossed the line separating the executive branch from the legislative branch.

The National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Air Act require the EPA to comment on environmental impact statements, which every agency files for proposed legislation or projects with an environmental component.

Each agency comments on EISes under their jurisdiction, but under the policy governing the environmental review process, the EPA has the ability to follow up on mitigations and, if it finds proposed solutions insufficient, to involve the president.

"It's by far the most powerful regulatory agency in country," said Bonner Cohen, a senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research, told the Washington Examiner…..ToRead More…..