ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY New White House unit to play broad role

President Clinton last week announced formation of a new White House Office on Environmental Policy, fulfilling his campaign pledge to raise the profile of environmental policy and to integrate it with economic planning. This new office eventually will replace the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), an independent agency created by Congress in 1970. Clinton also reaf-firmed his intention to work with Congress to elevate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to a Cabinet-level department. Both announcements were generally well received. However, Sen. Max S. Baucus (D.-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, and others are withholding judgment until the White House offers more details on the environmental policy office, and on where important functions now performed by CEQ will be transferred. Clinton expects the newly created office "will have broader influence and a more effective and focused mandate to coordinate environmental policy," Its director will be Kathleen Mc...