In a statement, Smith said the "content and extent of my contact was done without authorization" from Hunt.

CNN: UK minister rejects claims of improper Murdoch links

First, and most important, agencies are to utilize, to the extent permitted by law, the Statement of Energy Effects in their decisionmaking to improve the quality of agency actions affecting energy supply, distribution, or use.

WHITEHOUSE: Memoranda 01-27 (Guidance for Implementing E.O. 13211)

To the extent permitted by law, an agency is obligated to prepare a Statement of Energy Effects for those matters identified as a significant energy actions.

WHITEHOUSE: Memoranda 01-27 (Guidance for Implementing E.O. 13211)

For those regulatory actions that are governed by a statutory or court-imposed deadline, the agency shall, to the extent practicable, schedule rulemaking proceedings so as to permit sufficient time to prepare any applicable Statement of Energy Effects and to permit OIRA to conduct its regulatory review.

WHITEHOUSE: Memoranda 01-27 (Guidance for Implementing E.O. 13211)

"Director Sullivan's cooperation with our oversight efforts underscores his commitment to understand the extent of the problem and ensure that this unacceptable conduct does not occur again, " said a statement by the panel's chairman, Darrel Issa, R-California, and ranking Democrat, Elijah Cummings of Maryland.

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