Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and two Democratic colleagues today called for the resignation of Stephen Johnson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, charging that he based key policy decisions "on political considerations'' rather than on the scientific evidence.

Whitehouse and Senators Barbara Boxer, D-Cal., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., also called upon Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey to investigate whether Johnson "has made false or misleading statements'' before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

EPA spokesman Jonathan Schrader said Johnson will remain on the job, "undistracted by the Boxer and Whitehouse show.'' Schrader said the senators' accusations are wrong and that Johnson has based all his regulatory decisions on health and environmental concerns.