WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving ahead with tightening emission standards and the Bush Administration has boosted the agency’s budget.

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman has given the signal for her people to move forward on schedule with its rule which would cut pollution by 95 percent in model year 2007 heavy-duty trucks and buses and lower the sulfur content of diesel fuel by June 2001.

The Bush Administration at first had begun the process of reviewing and perhaps rolling back the tight emission standards, which had been imposed shortly before Bill Clinton left office.

But in addition to giving the go-ahead to rolling out the clean air policies, the Bush Administration has increased the EPA’s budget for 2002, to US$7.3 billion, $56 million more than requested.

About $3.8 billion is set for regulatory, research, and enforcement activities, the second highest level in EPA history.

In a statement, the White House says “the Federal Government will continue to play a crucial role in environmental protection, and EPA will seek higher levels of cooperation among stakeholders.”

The EPA Tuesday won a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, which effectively reinforced the agency’s right to change how fuel is consumed in the country.