Leavitt Avoids Endorsing Tougher Diesel Controls

ASHINGTON — Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, President Bush’s nominee to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, last week declined to endorse stronger emissions controls for diesel engines.

In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Republican Leavitt faced questions about reducing diesel engine emissions from two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Ohio’s George Voinovich.

Murkowski explained that in her state, diesel engines are used to generate electricity, and her constituents were concerned about possible long-term health effects from a high level of diesel emissions.