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Showing posts with label Clean Water Rule. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clean Water Rule. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Tell the EPA: Save the Clean Water Rule
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Seven courtroom victories over the Trump administration and corporate bad actors
Big news to share: in recent weeks there were seven courtroom victories over the Trump administration and corporate bad actors. Here's a quick rundown of the cases:
- Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline: A federal court in Montana ruled in favor of NRDC and our allies that the Trump administration violated the law when it fast-tracked review of the Keystone XL's new route through Nebraska. It ordered the government to go back to the drawing board and conduct a proper environmental review. This ruling throws up yet another obstacle to the climate-wrecking pipeline, and leaves investors questioning the need for the project. Find out more.
- Nerve gas pesticide chlorpyrifos: The U.S. Court of Appeals ordered Trump's EPA to act within 60 days to ban the dangerous pesticide chlorpyrifos, which is linked to learning disabilities and developmental delays in children. The court said the agency had broken the law by allowing the toxic chemical to be used on fruits and vegetables despite solid evidence that it harms the developing brains of children. Find out more.
- Monsanto and toxic chemicals: The California Supreme Court refused to review a lower court decision that rejected Monsanto's attempt to remove glyphosate — found in the company's Roundup pesticide products — from the state's public list of cancer-causing chemicals. The victory sends a clear message that corporations cannot dodge the public's right to information that directly threatens our health. Find out more.
- Endangered porpoises: The Court of International Trade sided with NRDC and our partners by ordering the Trump administration to immediately ban seafood imports from Mexico caught with gillnets that often injure or kill critically endangered vaquita porpoises, rejecting the Trump administration's attempt to narrow an earlier order. Find out more.
- Clean water in California: A federal court in Los Angeles ordered Trump's EPA to protect water quality and health by banning or regulating polluted stormwater discharges from commercial and industrial sites. Find out more.
- Clean water around the nation: A federal judge in South Carolina blocked the Trump administration's illegal suspension of the Clean Water Rule early this year, reinstating critical clean water protections in 26 states. While NRDC was not a party to this suit, we've been staunch supporters of the Clean Water Rule and cheer this decisive win for the millions of Americans whose water supplies are now better protected from pollution. Find out more.
- Safety of chemical plants: A federal appeals court threw out the Trump administration's attempt to delay important safety regulations meant to protect communities from disasters at industrial facilities that use high-risk, hazardous chemicals. The EPA continues its push to chip away at these safety regulations and NRDC, alongside our environmental justice and community partners, the Environmental Justice Health Alliance, Coming Clean, and others, have mobilized tens of thousands of people to send messages to the EPA protesting rollbacks of these critical safeguards. Find out more
NRDC has engaged in more than 60 lawsuits against the Trump administration, and we have notched victories in 21 of the 25 cases that have been resolved. The courts remain our environment's last, best line of defense. Many tough battles lay ahead.
But we will be ready to fight them and to hold this president and his administration to account.
- Mitch Bernard, Chief Counsel, NRDC
More Information: But we will be ready to fight them and to hold this president and his administration to account.
- Mitch Bernard, Chief Counsel, NRDC
(As of May 5, 2017) Trump has been sued 134 times in federal court since inauguration
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Leave a Clean Water Rule Repeal Comment to Protect Drinking Water
In late June, Trump's EPA doubled down on the proposal to repeal the Clean Water Rule. The agency released a "supplemental" to the proposal. Basically, the original proposal to repeal the Clean Water Rule was so thin on science, law, and public support, that the agency wants to try again. But the bottom line, this proposal would still put our water at risk.
There is no justification for putting the drinking water sources for one in three people at risk, which is exactly what repealing the Clean Water Rule will do. It's time that EPA hears from us again. Send a message to EPA below. Tell Trump's EPA that it needs to drop this reckless scheme to repeal protections for streams, wetlands, and drinking water.
- Clean Water Action
To send your own Clean Water Rule Repeal Comment click this link
(Personalize it for more impact.)
Sent to: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water
RE: Docket ID: EPA-HQ-2017-0203
Acting Administrator Wheeler,
I strongly opposed EPA's proposed repeal of the Clean Water Rule in 2017 and I still do. This latest supplemental proposal does nothing to address the basic issue -- this repeal will put the drinking water sources for one in three Americans at risk. This is unacceptable. Please abandon this supplemental proposal as well as the entire scheme to repeal these vital safeguards.
Instead, instruct the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately begin implementing the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The streams and wetlands that would be protected are vital to our health and well being, and are important parts of our natural infrastructure. Not only do they feed the drinking water for more than 117 million Americans, they provide habitat for countless species. Communities throughout the nation rely on wetlands to filter groundwater and absorb floodwaters during major storm events. We saw what can happen when we allow wetlands to be paved over in Houston and most recently in Ellicott City, MD.
The Clean Water Rule is based on sound science, consistent with the law, and gets us much closer to the Clean Water Act's goal of ensuring that all waters are swimmable, fishable, and drinkable. Please drop this supplemental proposal and the 2017 repeal proposal. Otherwise you are helping to set back our efforts to protect clean water by decades and putting our water at risk of pollution and destruction.
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Urge Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler to Uphold the Clean Water Rule
In late June, Trump's EPA doubled down on the proposal to repeal the Clean Water Rule. The agency released a "supplemental" to the proposal. Basically, the original proposal to repeal the Clean Water Rule was so thin on science, law, and public support, that the agency wants to try again. But the bottom line, this proposal would still put our water at risk.
There is no justification for putting the drinking water sources for one in three people at risk, which is exactly what repealing the Clean Water Rule will do. It's time that Pruitt hear from us again. Send a message to EPA below. Tell Trump's EPA that it needs to drop this reckless scheme to repeal protections for streams, wetlands, and drinking water.
- Clean Water Action
Click here to send the following letter (or better yet your revised letter) to Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler.
RE: Docket ID: EPA-HQ-2017-0203
Acting Administrator Wheeler,
I strongly opposed EPA's proposed repeal of the Clean Water Rule in 2017 and I still do. This latest supplemental proposal does nothing to address the basic issue -- this repeal will put the drinking water sources for one in three Americans at risk. This is unacceptable. Please abandon this supplemental proposal as well as the entire scheme to repeal these vital safeguards.
Instead, instruct the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately begin implementing the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The streams and wetlands that would be protected are vital to our health and well being, and are important parts of our natural infrastructure. Not only do they feed the drinking water for more than 117 million Americans, they provide habitat for countless species. Communities throughout the nation rely on wetlands to filter groundwater and absorb floodwaters during major storm events. We saw what can happen when we allow wetlands to be paved over in Houston and most recently in Ellicott City, MD.
The Clean Water Rule is based on sound science, consistent with the law, and gets us much closer to the Clean Water Act's goal of ensuring that all waters are swimmable, fishable, and drinkable. Please drop this supplemental proposal and the 2017 repeal proposal. Otherwise you are helping to set back our efforts to protect clean water by decades and putting our water at risk of pollution and destruction.
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Monday, April 9, 2018
Scott Pruitt, we have been following your real "accomplishments." Time to RESIGN!
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| Really!!! Scott Pruitt hung up this list of accomplishments |
The petition to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt reads:
"American taxpayers will no longer condone your corrupt administration, bankroll your expensive trips or tolerate the dismantling of our environmental protections to help your industry cronies. Resign now."
Add your name:
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Scott Pruitt has to go.
Every day, another news story breaks about Pruitt's corrupt dealings as Trump's anti-environmental EPA administrator. He is ruling the EPA as his own personal fiefdom – taking first-class flights, using government resources for personal gain and giving away favors to his friends.
Meanwhile, as Pruitt's ethical violations are making headlines, he is continuing to quietly scrap every rule that stops polluters from destroying our health and environment.
In hardly more than a year on the job, Pruitt has already made a name for himself by:
As one news story put it, the "'Most Blatantly Corrupt Trump Official' award is so close Scott Pruitt can taste it."6 New revelations about his ethical violations continue to break as he tears apart the agency he is supposed to lead. Even some congressional Republicans have started calling for Pruitt to step down.7
Enough is enough. Scott Pruitt has to go.
Tell Scott Pruitt to resign. Click the link below to sign the petition:
https://act.credoaction.com/sign/resign-pruitt?t=7&akid=28029%2E3130208%2ENNfGuT
- Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action
Add your name:
References:
Note from Jana at Desktop Activist Tucson
I have posted SO MANY calls to action fighting the devastation that Scott Pruitt is aggressively enacting on our land, water and air. Not to mention our health! His actions to delay implementing (and dismantle) the Clean Power Plan hurt my personal efforts to stop the permit for TEP's 10 RICE gas-fired generators.
It's odd to me that it takes this condo scandal to prove this man is corrupt so we can finally get rid of him. He should be prosecuted with the full strength of the law for his crimes against humanity!
More information on Pruitt's "accomplishments"
Scott Pruitt is slowly strangling the EPA The Ten Worst Things Scott Pruitt’s EPA Has Already Done |
Monday, September 25, 2017
TAKE ACTION: Tell Pruitt: Now is not the time to go back on clean water protections! Don't repeal the Clean Water Rule!
Thanks to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the rule that protects the drinking water for 117 million people in the United States is under attack.
Administrator Pruitt has issued a proposal to repeal the Clean Water Rule, moving this country away from a commonsense safeguard that helps state and federal agencies protect our rivers, streams and wetlands under the Clean Water Act.
Despite the fact that a majority of people in this country consistently support stronger clean water protections, the Trump administration continues to bend to the will of oil and gas industries and Big Agriculture by repealing this important safeguard. This move weakens clean water protections across the nation, attacking our public health, the growing outdoor economy, and the fish and wildlife that depend on clean water to survive.
Let Pruitt know: Now is not the time to go back on clean water protections!
Unfortunately, this attack is just one piece of the larger effort to go after vital safeguards for clean water across the country. We need your help to elevate this issue. The EPA is looking for your input, so now is your chance to submit a comment telling the agency that you do not support repealing the Clean Water Rule!
Without the Clean Water Rule, waters across the country—and the people, wildlife and businesses that rely on them—are at risk.
We’ve come so far in the almost 45 years since the Clean Water Act was first passed, yet many of our rivers, lakes and bays are still not safe for swimming, drinking or fishing. Tell Administrator Pruitt that now is not the time to go even further backwards on water protections.
- Earth Justice
Your personalized message will be added along with the following letter:
RE: Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0203: Comments on the Repeal and Replacement of the 2015 Definition of Waters of the U.S.
Dear Representative,
I am writing in response to your recent request for comments on the repeal of the Clean Water Rule. As someone who supports protections for this nation's waters, I strongly oppose this attack.
Before finalizing the Clean Water Rule in 2015, EPA held more than 400 meetings with stakeholders across the country, received over 1 million comments--more than 80 percent of which were in support of the rule--and published a synthesis of more than 1,200 peer-reviewed scientific publications, which showed that the small streams and wetlands the rule safeguards are vital to larger, downstream waters.
Repealing the Clean Water Rule would put many of our waters at risk, including waters that are critical for drinking water supplies, recreation, fish and wildlife. It would also affect our economy. Consumers spend $887 billion annually in outdoor recreation and the outdoor recreation economy is responsible for 7.6 million American jobs. Without protections for wetlands and small streams, the outdoor industry will likely suffer. The costs of treating our water also go up when streams and wetlands aren't protected.
Clean water is fundamental to our health and economy, something our nation recognized a long time ago in passing the Clean Water Act. I urge you to reconsider this proposal and leave the Clean Water Rule in place.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Crimes against humanity
The Republican Party has been called the most dangerous organization in human history dedicated to the prospect of ending human survival. The Trump administration has been doing its best to prove this axiom true with deliberate actions that deplete our water and food supply while exacerbating climate change and its devastating effects.
Climate Change is already hitting our planet hard with extreme weather from deadly droughts and more frequent fires to severe storms and hurricanes such as Harvey and Irma in the U.S. and even more destructive storms in Asia.
While single extreme events can't be attributed to man-made climate change, climate change is becoming an increasingly important factor for changing the odds of occurrence and intensity of these events,
Every day more people are being killed or having their lives destroyed as the result of the extreme weather caused by climate change. In this time when we need the most powerful person in the world to lead the transition to clean energy and rally the American people to make the sacrifices necessary to fight climate change, Trump has gone the opposite direction by: cutting funding for clean energy, eliminating environmental regulations on coal production, withdrawing U.S. participation in the Paris Climate agreement, firing scientists, defunding climate change research, and removing any mention of climate change data from government websites.
As a regular contributor to Desktop Activist Tucson, I have followed the government’s nearly daily assaults on our planet. Here are some of the actions that the Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress have done to make our planet uninhabitable for humans and wildlife.
Attacks on our water supply
On his first day of office, Trump signed an executive order approving the Keystone XL Pipeline and allowing Energy Transfer Partnership to continue building the Dakota Access Pipeline under Lake Oahe along the Missouri River without conducting the court mandated environmental impact study. This action puts the drinking water for 18 million Americans at risk.
In order to survive we need water. We don't have an indefinite supply. Freshwater makes up a very small fraction of all water on the planet. While nearly 70 percent of the world is covered by water, only 2.5 percent of it is fresh. The rest is saline and ocean-based. Even then, just 1 percent of our freshwater is easily accessible, with much of it trapped in glaciers and snowfields.
It is important to conserve our water, especially here in the Arizona desert. As droughts become more severe, there will be more competition from other states for our quickly diminishing water source, the Colorado River.
But instead of protecting our water, the Trump administration has proposed rolling back the Clean Water Rule -.critical protections for streams and wetlands This dangerous action would put human health, wildlife, and the drinking water for 1 in 3 of us at risk of pollution and destruction. The Clean Water Rule protects drinking water sources for more than 117 million Americans;
President Trump and the head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt are trying to dismantle National Monuments protections (including 4 in Arizona), which would allow mining and fracking on protected lands with rivers and streams that feed into our main water supply.
The House (including Rep. McSally) recently passed a law removing regulations that stop mines from dumping their toxic tailings into our streams.
President Trump and Scott Pruitt are changing the rules on what waterways qualify for protections under the Waters of the U.S. If this passes, companies like Raytheon will legally be allowed to dump their toxic waste into Tucson’s non-perennial rivers. Pima Country has already spent billions building a treatment center to clean up the toxic waste that Raytheon, the airport, and the Air Force let seep into the aquifer in South Tucson.
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| Animas River spill |
In order to push through the construction of his border wall, the President has waived environmental laws and regulations on how to safely build the wall. Hasty construction could damage our water infrastructure.
Attacks on animals, oceans and our food supply
President Trump's wall will also destroy the habitats for 111 endangered species and 108 migrant birds.
CO2 is making the oceans acidic. This has caused over 40% of the corral reefs to dissolve into sand. If we keep going the way we are, by 2050 all of the reefs will be gone. Sea creatures, an important part of our food supply, are dying off. Yet the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is reviewing lease sales for new offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
The Trump administration has made it clear that they will open up more protected shorelines, even Marine preserves, to offshore drilling. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that “nothing is off the table”- even the Pacific. On April 28, Trump signed an executive order that revokes limits on offshore drilling in the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans. He has instructed Zinke to review the five-year plan imposed by President Barack Obama that blocked the sale of new federal leases in California waters until 2022.
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| Montara Oil Spill |
Congress has proposed a bill allowing drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve - that would threaten several endangered species.
The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) is the largest contiguous block of public land in the United States (22.5 million acres). The Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 mandated that the BLM manage Alaska's western Arctic and recognized that the reserve contained a number of important values—subsistence fish and wildlife that should be conserved through balanced management. This mandate later resulted in the designation of five special areas where most parcels were made “unavailable for leasing.” But now the BLM is asking for comments on whether to open these areas to oil and gas development.
Scott Pruitt directed his staff to withdraw a plan to protect the watershed of Bristol Bay, Alaska, one of the most valuable wild salmon fisheries on Earth that produces approximately 46% of the world’s wild sockeye harvest. In 2014, after three years of peer-reviewed study, the Obama administration's EPA invoked a rarely used provision of the Clean Water Act to try to protect Bristol Bay after finding that a mine "would result in complete loss of fish habitat due to elimination, dewatering, and fragmentation of streams, wetlands, and other aquatic resources" in some areas of the bay. All of these losses would be irreversible.
President Trump has commissioned Scott Pruitt to delay implementing the EPA rule to reduce mercury emissions on coal plants which has been poisoning our sea food.
The U.S. House of Representatives overturned a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that stopped unsporting predator control methods in Alaskan wildlife refuges: shooting or trapping wolves while in their dens with cubs, using airplanes to hunt for grizzly bears, trapping bears with cruel steel-jawed leghold traps and wire snares, and luring grizzly bears with food to get a point blank kill.
President Trump nominated Michael Dourson, best friend to the chemical industry, to lead the EPA’s toxics program. This is going in the wrong direction. Pesticides are already killing off our bees that pollinate the produce we eat.
President Trump has nominated climate “skeptic” Sam Clovis, a radio talk show host with no scientific or agricultural background to be the chief scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Farmers need the USDA to help them address and adapt to a changing climate.
Our fruits and vegetables are being sprayed with a dangerous neurotoxin called chlorpyrifos, and despite mounting scientific evidence and the EPA's own recommendation, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt decided to let the pesticide stay legal.
President Trump pledged to bring back the dying and antiquated coal industry that adds carbon into the air - one of the main contributors to climate change.
The Bureau of Land Management is considering another massive, 441 million ton coal mine expansion on public lands in Wyoming. For context, this is more than 50 times as much coal as Colstrip, one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the United States, burns in a year.
Northwesterners could face higher cancer rates, increased risk of rail accidents and air heavy with coal dust—all due to coal trains barreling through neighborhoods and along the shore of the Columbia River, carrying coal that will produce 2 million tons of global greenhouse gas emissions.
That is, if Cowlitz County and the Washington Department of Ecology allow the largest coal export terminal in the United States to be built in Longview, Washington.
Power plants account for 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions - the primary green house gas that creates climate change. That's more than every car, truck, and plane in the U.S. combined. On August 3, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new rules, or standards, that will reduce carbon emissions from power plants for the first time. Previously, power plants were allowed to dump unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into the atmosphere — no rules were in effect that limited their emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary driver of global warming. These standards, known as the Clean Power Plan, have been developed under the Clean Air Act, an act of Congress that requires the EPA to take steps to reduce air pollution that harms the public's health. The president is dismantling the Clean Power Plan.
Interior Secretary Zinke proposed rescission of Bureau of Land Management Hydraulic Fracturing Rule, 82 Fed. Reg. 34464 on July 25, 2017. The Bureau of Land Management's 2015 rule addresses hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands. Fracking has caused earthquakes in Oklahoma, contributes to climate change, and causes toxic tailings to seep into our ground water.
Automakers are not only petitioning President Trump to weaken the vehicle efficiency standards, they're now pushing their congressional allies to escalate attacks on these standards as well. As part of these attacks, Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) and Representative Fred Upton (R-Michigan) have introduced bills that would give automakers free credits which they can use to significantly slow their progress on making cars more fuel efficient into the future. Ultimately this legislation would increase oil use by 350 million barrels of oil, increase global warming emissions by 155 million metric tons, and take money ($34 billion!) directly out of American families' wallets. Automakers are using every trick in the book to undermine successful vehicle efficiency standards -the ones that help us all go farther on a gallon of gas and protect our environment and health.
President Trump almost entirely dismantled the EPA by cutting departments and firing scientists. Under Administrator Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is failing to uphold its mission to protect human and environmental health. In fact, the EPA is being used to undermine important protections for people and the planet, like the Clean Air Act. The EPA accepted public comments on its proposal to delay implementation of parts of an important rule on protecting public health and the climate from methane pollution from oil and natural gas projects.
Mitch McConnell bypassed Senate procedure to ram a terrible dirty energy bill S 1460 through Congress. This bill would expedite approval for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities to ship more fracked gas abroad. It would enable more pipelines. On top of that, the "Renewables" section of the bill doesn't even mention solar or wind energy.
President Trump has cut subsidies for clean energy production while increasing support of fossil fuel production in the US. Fossil fuel production adds methane and carbon into the atmosphere that contributes to climate change.
The Trump budget proposed cutting 900 million dollars from the office of science at the Department of Energy.
In addition to Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA, President Trump has recently nominated non-scientist, climate change deniers to lead important departments. Trump just nominated anti-science, climate denier Jim Bridenstine to run NASA. Jim Bridenstine is not a scientist. He’s a member of Congress with no experience in space.
President Trump rolled back the increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that would have forced automakers to improve fuel efficiency (and lower the carbon emissions) of the cars they sell.
In this speech, Racing To The Precipice, Noam Chomsky said, "The Republican wrecking machine is systematically dismantling the institutions that offer some hope for decent survival."
Just 10 days before Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Donald Trump signed an executive order to reverse potentially life-saving flood safety rules implemented by Pres. Obama. This destructive, irresponsible decision risks American lives when future disasters strike. The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard requires federal agencies to take sea level rise and flood risks into account when funding new infrastructure or rebuilding after disasters. It is the first new U.S. flood protection rule in 40 years, and a former official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) called it "the most significant action taken in a generation" to safeguard U.S. infrastructure.
Some might excuse President Trump and his administration because they don't believe in climate change. But being ignorant is no excuse. If an ignorant parent neglected the needs of their child, wouldn't they be tried for reckless endangerment? Isn't it worse to endanger all of humanity? But just like the CEOs of big oil companies (a former Exxon CEO is in Trump's cabinet), I'm guessing that they know about climate change and have decided to profit from it. No doubt the president's plan to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure is to privatize it. That would include giving our depleted water supply away to big corporations like Nestle to divvy out as they please. Creating a shortage by poisoning our water with toxic tailings would just increase their profits. That would give even more power to the oligarchy that already owns most of our politicians. They would own US and what's left of the planet.
Some might try to excuse the president by saying that Obama also contributed to climate change - even though he believed in it. And they would be right about Obama. President Obama had his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton flying around the globe to convince world leaders to allow fracking. He didn't sign on to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline until his last few days in office - because his administration was building oil infrastructure. He was complicit in selling the idea of "clean coal" and "oil independence" that President Trump is now taking to town. The media should have done a better job of informing the American people. And we should have called President Obama out on that. At least, President Obama finally put in place the environmental regulations and protections that the Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress are now working hard to dismantle.
We have got to stop making excuses for our president and government officials, and hold them accountable for the disastrous executive orders and bills that they are pushing through. We have got to stay on top of it, and demand that they create and uphold laws that protect our planet and our future on it. If not us, who? If not now, when?
More Information:
The Trump Administration Is Reversing 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List - NY TIMES (updated May 20, 2020)
I can't keep up with all of them!
President Trump rolled back the increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that would have forced automakers to improve fuel efficiency (and lower the carbon emissions) of the cars they sell.
In this speech, Racing To The Precipice, Noam Chomsky said, "The Republican wrecking machine is systematically dismantling the institutions that offer some hope for decent survival."
Just 10 days before Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Donald Trump signed an executive order to reverse potentially life-saving flood safety rules implemented by Pres. Obama. This destructive, irresponsible decision risks American lives when future disasters strike. The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard requires federal agencies to take sea level rise and flood risks into account when funding new infrastructure or rebuilding after disasters. It is the first new U.S. flood protection rule in 40 years, and a former official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) called it "the most significant action taken in a generation" to safeguard U.S. infrastructure.
Some might excuse President Trump and his administration because they don't believe in climate change. But being ignorant is no excuse. If an ignorant parent neglected the needs of their child, wouldn't they be tried for reckless endangerment? Isn't it worse to endanger all of humanity? But just like the CEOs of big oil companies (a former Exxon CEO is in Trump's cabinet), I'm guessing that they know about climate change and have decided to profit from it. No doubt the president's plan to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure is to privatize it. That would include giving our depleted water supply away to big corporations like Nestle to divvy out as they please. Creating a shortage by poisoning our water with toxic tailings would just increase their profits. That would give even more power to the oligarchy that already owns most of our politicians. They would own US and what's left of the planet.
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| Hold them accountable for their crimes against humanity. |
Some might try to excuse the president by saying that Obama also contributed to climate change - even though he believed in it. And they would be right about Obama. President Obama had his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton flying around the globe to convince world leaders to allow fracking. He didn't sign on to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline until his last few days in office - because his administration was building oil infrastructure. He was complicit in selling the idea of "clean coal" and "oil independence" that President Trump is now taking to town. The media should have done a better job of informing the American people. And we should have called President Obama out on that. At least, President Obama finally put in place the environmental regulations and protections that the Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress are now working hard to dismantle.
We have got to stop making excuses for our president and government officials, and hold them accountable for the disastrous executive orders and bills that they are pushing through. We have got to stay on top of it, and demand that they create and uphold laws that protect our planet and our future on it. If not us, who? If not now, when?
More Information:
The Trump Administration Is Reversing 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List - NY TIMES (updated May 20, 2020)
I can't keep up with all of them!
UPDATED HERE:
The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List.
The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List.
EPA Withdraws Air Pollution Policy
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Check in daily for updates on harmful bills being proposed by Congress and calls to action such as signing petitions, calling your reps, or opportunities to submit public comments: desktopactivisttucson.blogspot.comMonday, September 4, 2017
TELL EPA ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT PRUITT TO DROP THE REPEAL OF THE CLEAN WATER RULE AND PROTECT OUR DRINKING WATER!
URGENT: Donald Trump and EPA Admin Scott Pruitt announced the repeal of the EPA’s Clean Water Rule, giving polluters a pass to dump waste in our waterways and threaten the drinking water of 117 million Americans.
Trump and Pruitt’s attack on the Clean Water Rule is their first step towards gutting the entire Clean Water Act and the nearly 45 years of water protections that go with it. We can't let this happen. Send a message today to tell Scott Pruitt to keep his hands off our water!
Sign the petition here: It reads:
Dear Administrator Pruitt,
I am absolutely opposed to the proposed repeal of the Clean Water Rule. Repealing this vital safeguard will put our health and communities throughout the nation at risk. I strongly urge you to reconsider your position and drop the repeal of the Clean Water Rule.
This repeal will put the drinking water of 117 million people at risk -- that's 1 in 3 of us! Too many communities throughout the nation already struggle with access to clean water. Removing this protection for the bodies of water that feed our drinking water, filter pollutants, and recharge groundwater would make things worse.
As with many issues related to the environment, low-income communities and communities of color will be disproportionately impacted by removing this safeguard. Repealing the Clean Water Rule could increase water contamination. Contaminated water can cause a variety of health problems, especially for children. We have seen this heartbreaking and wholly avoidable reality in Flint, MI. Additionally, small and rural communities who rely on private wells, or whose water systems lack the resources to deal with polluted sources, will be hit hard by this rollback.
Protect our drinking water and keep the Clean Water Rule in place!
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