EPA Gets the Choke Collar from the Administration

Submitted by kebernet on Thu, 11/06/2003 - 16:54

Tagged:

Politics

Thanks to the new moronic and ironic "Clear Skies" program from the White House, the EPA is dropping pending charges against 50 polluters.

The lawyers said in interviews on Wednesday that the decision meant the cases would be judged under new, less stringent rules set to take effect next month, rather than the stricter rules in effect at the time the investigations began. The lawyers said the new rules include exemptions that would make it almost impossible to sustain the investigations into the plants, which are scattered around the country and owned by 10 utilities. The lawyers said the change grew out of a recommendation by Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force, which urged the government two years ago to study industry complaints about its enforcement actions. The Bush administration has said its goal is to ensure cost-effective improvements to air quality.

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Re: EPA Gets the Choke Collar from the Administration

Submitted by atrox (not verified) on Fri, 11/07/2003 - 20:13.

rant - stream mode - on. ----------- man this is ridiculous, another punch in the gut to LEGITIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE AND WORKING FOR YEARS (with business also, they are not anti business laws, they are PRIORITY laws). this administration has done more damage to environmental law than imaginable. and again, laws are designed not to destroy business, contrary to what "conservatives" would portray, they are designed to keep air and water clean AND allow business to function within reason. frankly things were too lenient BEFORE THE CHANGES. its a matter of priorities people, clean air, or a little more expensive power? uh, yes your electric bill will be cheaper and the power companies will make more money if we eschew env law, but 20 years from now when you have emphsyma you will lose that money you saved and the companies WILL STILL MAKE MONEY, JUST A LITTLE LESS BECAUSE OF MEASURES TO KEEP THINGS CLEANER. its long term v short term thinking. i am very much in favor of strict environmental laws to control SHARED PROPERTY (air water) because companies have time and time again PROVEN they wont bother with keeping things clean and being responsible on their own. and even so, again, laws are not debilitating to industry, thats not what they are for and NOT THEIR AFFECT. with a gutted epa do you think that monsanto and dupont are going to protect the environment just because its the right thing to do?