States sue EPA

Upton · #1 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 02:09 PM

Not exactly global warming, but an environmental story nonetheless. The EPA, under the Bush administration, has become wholly nonfunctional as rules have been rolled back.

Quote:

12 states sue EPA for data on toxins

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Twelve states sued the Bush administration on Wednesday to force greater disclosure of data on toxic chemicals that companies store, use and release into the environment.

The state officials oppose new federal Environmental Protection Agency rules that allow thousands of companies to limit the information they disclose to the public about toxic chemicals, according to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the lead attorney general in the civil lawsuit.

The EPA this year rolled back a regulation on the Toxics Release Inventory law signed by President Ronald Reagan after the deadly Bhopal toxic chemical catastrophe in India in 1984, according to the states involved in the lawsuit. That law required companies to provide a lengthy, detailed report whenever they store or emit 500 pounds of specific toxins.

The new rule adopted this year requires that lengthy accounting only for companies storing or releasing 5,000 pounds of toxins or more. Companies storing or releasing 500 to 4,999 pounds of toxins would have to file an abbreviated form, said Katherine Kennedy, New York's special deputy attorney general for environmental protection.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New York City seeks to invalidate the EPA's revised regulations.

"The EPA's new regulations rob New Yorkers - and people across the country - of their right to know about toxic dangers in their own backyards," said Cuomo. "Along with eleven other states throughout the nation, we will restore the public's right to information about chemical hazards, despite the Bush administration's best attempts to hide it."

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the EPA's action cripples a 20-year program that required companies to report the amount of lead, mercury and other toxins they released.

"Polluters can release 10 times more toxins like lead and mercury without telling anyone," he said.

An EPA spokesman had no immediate comment.

The other states suing the EPA are Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

12 states sue EPA for data on toxins

Cookie Parker · #2 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 03:21 PM

Yeah!!!! First they deny the right to insurance benefit and then they couple that with polluting and killing people with toxins!!!

bout time, America...bout time...

Teak · #3 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 03:34 PM

Another brilliantly administered federal agency, that has been a "cluster flop" since it's inception.
Yet many people want to turn their health care over to another such agency. I can't figure it!

coyote · #4 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Upton

Not exactly global warming, but an environmental story nonetheless. The EPA, under the Bush administration, has become wholly nonfunctional as rules have been rolled back.
12 states sue EPA for data on toxins

Why cant states regulate toxics themselves?

Upton · #5 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyote

Why cant states regulate toxics themselves?

In red states, with Republican governors? Not going to happen.
Republican prefer coddling polluters not regulating.

coyote · #6 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Upton

In red states, with Republican governors? Not going to happen.
Republican prefer coddling polluters not regulating.

But no one is stopping those 12 states suing the EPA from regulating toxics in their own states.

Teak · #7 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyote

But no one is stopping those 12 states suing the EPA from regulating toxics in their own states.

Have you not heard? Its unconstitutional for a state to regulate something that the Federal Government already regulates (ie. illegal immigration). At least thats what some federal judges and groups like the ACLU say.

Upton · #8 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyote

But no one is stopping those 12 states suing the EPA from regulating toxics in their own states.

All but Connecticut, Vermont, and Minnesota have Democratic governors. Reverse those numbers, they're wouldn't even be a law suit. As I said, in general, Republicans prefer coddling to regulating.

coyote · #9 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Upton

All but Connecticut, Vermont, and Minnesota have Democratic governors. Reverse those numbers, they're wouldn't even be a law suit. As I said, in general, Republicans prefer coddling to regulating.

Why is regulation necessary?

Eternal Footman · #10 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Upton

Not exactly global warming, but an environmental story nonetheless. The EPA, under the Bush administration, has become wholly nonfunctional as rules have been rolled back.
12 states sue EPA for data on toxins

This article is somewhat misleading and your remarks are not accurate. To say the EPA is nonfunctional is inaccurate and to blame Bush is retarded.

This "rollback" is to help facilities carry out reporting. It puts forth an option for lesser polluters to choose between the form R and form A. The term lesser polluters covers a broad range. Everyone from Mom and Pop companies to small industrial companies. There are other regulations that intersect releases whether they are large EPCRA releases off-site or smaller releases isolated to their property. Also, many state and EPA inspected facilities are more than happy to report spills whether their hand is forced by regs or not.

While I would rather have toxins emitted listed in detail, such as Form R does, I don't think many understand environmental rules and regs. or that a Form A type of "rollback" is not as sinister as it may appear to some.