Flushing sound: EPA enforcement going down the drain in Bush administration

[BaliBabyDoc]

Mercury News

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is catching and punishing far fewer polluters than the two previous administrations, according to a Knight Ridder analysis of 15 years of environmental-enforcement records.

Bush administration officials said the EPA is enforcing anti-pollution laws, just in a more effective way.

Some current EPA enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from their bosses, say they are getting the signal to slow down enforcement cases.

In each of its annual budget requests to Congress, the Bush administration has called for dramatic cuts in money and staffing for EPA enforcement, only to be rebuffed by Capitol Hill.

 

[glenn1]

Some current EPA enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from their bosses, say they are getting the signal to slow down enforcement cases.

In each of its annual budget requests to Congress, the Bush administration has called for dramatic cuts in money and staffing for EPA enforcement, only to be rebuffed by Capitol Hill.

So? I'd just as soon have the EPA, Dept. of Education, and about half the other cabinet level agencies abolished immediately.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: glenn1

Some current EPA enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from their bosses, say they are getting the signal to slow down enforcement cases.

In each of its annual budget requests to Congress, the Bush administration has called for dramatic cuts in money and staffing for EPA enforcement, only to be rebuffed by Capitol Hill.

So? I'd just as soon have the EPA, Dept. of Education, and about half the other cabinet level agencies abolished immediately.

Somethign needs to be done with the EPA.

They are about to force tail pipe testing on us. This will quadruple the cost of car inspections and according the simulation it might reduce ozone level 1/2 a part per billion.

Most of pollution is blown in from mexico when they burn their crops.

There are far better ways for those tax dollars to more effectivly reduce pollution.

 

[Jhhnn]

With the new states' rights head of the epa, it won't get any better.

Living in Colorado has more benefits than I thought, come to think of it. We sit at the top of all the major western watersheds. We can get clean water from the snowmelt, float the unprocessed turds and industrial refuse downstream for the rest of you to drink...

Just say thanks to Dubya for the little floaters in your drinking water and the strange tomatoes from your gardens...

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: glenn1

Some current EPA enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from their bosses, say they are getting the signal to slow down enforcement cases.

In each of its annual budget requests to Congress, the Bush administration has called for dramatic cuts in money and staffing for EPA enforcement, only to be rebuffed by Capitol Hill.

So? I'd just as soon have the EPA, Dept. of Education, and about half the other cabinet level agencies abolished immediately.

Somethign needs to be done with the EPA.

They are about to force tail pipe testing on us. This will quadruple the cost of car inspections and according the simulation it might reduce ozone level 1/2 a part per billion.

Most of pollution is blown in from mexico when they burn their crops.

There are far better ways for those tax dollars to more effectivly reduce pollution.

We have tail pipe testing in some counties in NC; it hardly costs quadruple what a basic inspection does. IIRC, the cost is about double, I believe $18 for basic, $35 for basic + emissions. That's a price everyone who wants to drive a car can pay to ensure better air.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: glenn1

Some current EPA enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from their bosses, say they are getting the signal to slow down enforcement cases.

In each of its annual budget requests to Congress, the Bush administration has called for dramatic cuts in money and staffing for EPA enforcement, only to be rebuffed by Capitol Hill.

So? I'd just as soon have the EPA, Dept. of Education, and about half the other cabinet level agencies abolished immediately.

Somethign needs to be done with the EPA.

They are about to force tail pipe testing on us. This will quadruple the cost of car inspections and according the simulation it might reduce ozone level 1/2 a part per billion.

Most of pollution is blown in from mexico when they burn their crops.

There are far better ways for those tax dollars to more effectivly reduce pollution.

We have tail pipe testing in some counties in NC; it hardly costs quadruple what a basic inspection does. IIRC, the cost is about double, I believe $18 for basic, $35 for basic + emissions. That's a price everyone who wants to drive a car can pay to ensure better air.

Our inspections are currently 12.50 and i beleive the projected price is going to be a little over $40.

You might want to check with your reps and see how much cleaner your air actually is. From what I hear, tail pipe testing does little.

 

[Jhhnn]

Dunno about where you guys live, but it has made a difference here in Denver. Yeh, it's a pita, mostly because of the low-skill high-turnover high-profit state contractor. It's not just a tailpipe test anymore, it's a dynomometer test for '83 and newer cars- $25. Also opacity tests for diesels...

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Jhhnn
Dunno about where you guys live, but it has made a difference here in Denver. Yeh, it's a pita, mostly because of the low-skill high-turnover high-profit state contractor. It's not just a tailpipe test anymore, it's a dynomometer test for '83 and newer cars- $25. Also opacity tests for diesels...

And all you have to do is find a testing facility where an extra $20 makes your car sail through the inspection. Had that lined up in Texas before my car completely died, and I had to buy a new one.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: glenn1

Some current EPA enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from their bosses, say they are getting the signal to slow down enforcement cases.

In each of its annual budget requests to Congress, the Bush administration has called for dramatic cuts in money and staffing for EPA enforcement, only to be rebuffed by Capitol Hill.

So? I'd just as soon have the EPA, Dept. of Education, and about half the other cabinet level agencies abolished immediately.

Somethign needs to be done with the EPA.

They are about to force tail pipe testing on us. This will quadruple the cost of car inspections and according the simulation it might reduce ozone level 1/2 a part per billion.

Most of pollution is blown in from mexico when they burn their crops.

There are far better ways for those tax dollars to more effectivly reduce pollution.

We have tail pipe testing in some counties in NC; it hardly costs quadruple what a basic inspection does. IIRC, the cost is about double, I believe $18 for basic, $35 for basic + emissions. That's a price everyone who wants to drive a car can pay to ensure better air.

Our inspections are currently 12.50 and i beleive the projected price is going to be a little over $40.

You might want to check with your reps and see how much cleaner your air actually is. From what I hear, tail pipe testing does little.

Here in Atlanta (and likely in other major metropolitan areas) motor vehicles are the largest non-point source for air pollutants, so I seriously doubt it does "little".

 

[Fencer128]

We have had exhaust testing for quite a few years now. Don't remember testing charges quadrupling.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[kandarp]

what is so ironic is that the governor of one of the most polluted states in the country was the head of the EPA..that like putting the head of Halliburton to help lead the reconstruction of Iraq...oh wait, we already did that.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

We have tail pipe testing in some counties in NC; it hardly costs quadruple what a basic inspection does. IIRC, the cost is about double, I believe $18 for basic, $35 for basic + emissions. That's a price everyone who wants to drive a car can pay to ensure better air.

Ditto