The storyline is familiar by now: US President Barack Obama overturns industry-friendly policy established by Bush administration, reaping praise from environmental groups. And so it was on Thursday, when the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to reinstate an obscure-but-important component of the scientific review process within an equally obscure-but-important component of the air quality program.

The gist is that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has formally restored the role of its independent science advisors in producing a staff paper detailing recommendations on air quality standards. For a bit of history, check the Union of Concerned Scientists’ website here and here.

The announcement even picked up some news coverage (Reuters, Philadelphia Enquirer), which is something given the flurry of energy and climate news coming out of Washington this week.