Bush admin deal exempts thousands of farms from pollution fines

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Bush admin deal exempts thousands of farms from pollution fines

 

A Bush administration deal announced yesterday will allow thousands of factory

farms to evade pollution fines. The U.S. EPA has signed consent agreements with

nearly 2,700 companies in the egg, poultry, dairy, and hog industries, exempting

them from paying major daily fines for toxic air emissions. The companies will

ante up a flat $2,500 to participate in the amnesty, along with $200 to $100,000

in civil penalties to settle past violations and avoid liability four years into

the future. In return, they'll allow the EPA to collect data on their air

pollution and will abide by regulations that are expected to eventually result

from this research (thanks!). Pork industry spokesflack Randy Spronk says the

deal will let the EPA " use sound science to develop practical policies. " But

greens are suing, saying the agency should be protecting public health, y'know,

now.

 

 

straight to the source: The Mercury News, Associated Press, John Heilprin, 30

Jan 2006

 

 

straight to the source: The Des Moines Register, Philip Brasher, 31 Jan 2006

 

When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a

cross.

-Sinclair Lewis