Mandate watch.

• Position: UU environmental policy - The States' Advocate.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced July 16 the final version of stringent, new clean air standards. EPA ignored NCSL's complaint that it failed to comply with federal law on mandate relief.

Representative Brian Flaherty of Connecticut testified on behalf of NCSL before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on July 29. "The effective implementation of the Unfunded Mandate Relief Act," he said, "is essential not only in the context of Clean Air Act rulemaking activities, but for all other federal administrative proceedings. The act should not be perceived as a roadblock or even a speed bump, impeding the swift development and implementation of public policy."...