Federal Agencies Step Up Relief Efforts, Waive Regulations
Heads of several federal agencies said they have mounted a massive, multi-pronged effort to bring relief to people in the New Orleans area and other Gulf Coast locations battered by Hurricane Katrina. To help boost supplies of motor fuels, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson said on Aug. 31 he had notified governors of all states that he has temporarily waived certain Clean Air Act standards that apply to gasoline and diesel.
Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said federal agencies had launched one of the largest emergency response effort in U.S. history. Speaking at a press conference at DHS headquarters, he said the department had declared the hurricane aftermath the first "incident of national significance" under a National Response Plan set up earlier this year. He said the plan aims to bring together federal resources to make relief efforts more effective.