EPA head downplays strains over emissions controversy

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The chief of the Environmental Protection Agency said Friday her ability to work with President Bush has not been strained by his decision to reverse a campaign promise to limit carbon dioxide emissions.

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman said Bush consulted her on his decision to abandon his campaign pledge to list carbon dioxide as a pollutant and that she expressed her opinion. She said she didn't feel her advice had been ignored, but understands the president is the one who makes the final decision.

"That's the way it works," the former New Jersey governor said.

In response to a question about whether she might resign in protest over the decision, she said, "not because of this issue, not now."

She added that she was unaware that the president was considering this decision when she assured European environmental leaders at a meeting in Italy two weeks ago that the administration would curtail carbon dioxide emissions.

Whitman said she did not feel the change in policy would hurt the chances of resuming international global warming talks. She said she plans to reach out to European leaders soon to explain the administration's decision.

Whitman said she is "entirely supportive of where we are" and described her relationship with the president as "fine." She planned to meet with him Friday afternoon.

When asked by a student of the National Young Leaders Conference why Bush reversed his position, Whitman said: "He didn't ... Well, he did." She said the president was concerned limiting emissions might worsen the current energy crisis and didn't want to do so until the US had the technology to cap carbon dioxide.

When asked if she would complete her term as EPA administrator she said: "Well, that's four, three years from now. I have no clue what's going to happen in the next few, but not because of this issue, not now."

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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