But in another document released Tuesday, staff of the EPA's climate change division cited conditions that made the state "vulnerable to climate change."
Boxer said the documents were further evidence that Johnson acted against the advice of his legal and scientific advisors in denying California's request. "We see more and more evidence of Administrator Johnson ignoring the science and the facts," she said. She plans to question the EPA chief when he testifies before her committee today on the agency's budget.
EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar said Johnson received a "wide range" of advice from inside the agency. "At the end of the day, it was his decision to make, based on the law," he said. "He made the decision he felt was right, and he stands by it."
California and more than a dozen other states that want to enact similar laws have sued to overturn Johnson's decision. Legislation to overturn the decision had picked up 23 Senate sponsors as of Tuesday, including Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.
Johnson has said he reached his decision independently, denying he was influenced by political pressure. He has contended that the tougher vehicle fuel-economy rules required nationwide by the recent energy bill are preferable to a "patchwork of state rules."
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richard.simon@latimes.com
janet.wilson@latimes.com
Simon reported from Washington and Wilson from Los Angeles.
