Tag: EPA

President Trump wants to weaken fuel economy standards

President Trump wants to weaken fuel economy standards

Posted on by Jack

President Trump defends his weakening of fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks by citing greater safety which will save lives. Cars can be bigger and heavier and therefore safer. They will also be cheaper so

On the other hand, internal documents from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year indicate the rule change would increase deaths. But publicly they support President Trump’s claims.
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More bad news about Scott Pruitt

More bad news about Scott Pruitt

Posted on by Jack

Just when we were starting to get used to Scott Pruitt and his crazy ideas about not protecting the environment, more news comes out about his crazy views on this and other topics.

…Scott Pruitt, the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), espoused some pretty bizarre and goddy views on an Oklahoma radio show in 2005. Granted, that’s 13 years ago, but have his views changed? Given his faith, probably not, and they were posted on his campaign website when he ran for Oklahoma attorney general in 2010. Nobody’s talking now, but…

The blog Why Evolution Is True in an article with a somewhat lengthy title ( EPA administrator Scott Pruitt disses evolution, espouses theocracy, doubts whether carbon dioxide causes global warming, asserts that God gave us the right to have all guns ) discusses his bizarre views and right to impose them on the rest of us and lack of suitability to run a science-based agency.

It is worth reading.

Trump’s Legacy: Dow’s nerve poison, damaged brains

Trump’s Legacy: Dow’s nerve poison, damaged brains

Posted on by Jack

This week I read an article by Nicholas Kristof in the Sunday New York Times called Trump’s Legacy: Damaged Brains. This is about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stance on the insecticide chlorpyrifois.

The chemical was banned from residential use 17 years ago but it still used on food and in various other places. The EPA was ready to further limit use but the Trump administration put a stop to that. Here is a small quote from Mr. Kristof’s article:
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We need a strong EPA

We need a strong EPA

Posted on by Jack

Why do we need a strong EPA? There are many reasons but here is a good reminder to how America looked before there was an EPA to regulate pollution.

Kevin Loria’s article Vintage photos taken by the EPA reveal what America looked like before pollution was regulated reminds us of a few things the EPA is doing (or avoiding) today but more importantly shows pictures of the good old days before we decided to regulate pollution.

Perhaps there are some who miss the good old days when rivers caught fire or companies were free to poison the drinking water. But I like the clean water and clean air. I’m old enough to remember the good old days and certainly do not miss the pollution.
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Love that dirty water

Love that dirty water

Posted on by Jack

I am glad to hear that the Senate has voted to repeal the Stream Protection Rule . I hope the House and President follow-up on this quickly. I just love that dirty water.

I have long been tired of clean drinking water. I just doesn’t have an interesting taste. I am looking forward to the added taste of coal debris or maybe even coal tar in my drinking water. It may add a bit of flavor.

Unfortunately flavor in drinking water does not seem to add many jobs.
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Secret Science

Secret Science

Posted on by Jack

Let me start by saying that as a scientist I am against the idea of secret science. Science should be an open process and certainly not secret.

But sometimes, it isn’t.   And there is nothing sinister about that.  And certainly no need  to be reformed. However, that is not what this bill is about. If science needed to be reformed and it doesn’t, Congress is the last place I would think of. Continue reading “Secret Science”