Anti-Market, Anti-Citizen, Paternalistic Government
Bush Allows Unlimited Pollution Even When Illegal
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Another big power grab by the bloated federal government. A court decision this week said that a Bush Administration agency can declare large agribusiness corporations protected from lawsuits, no matter how much they pollute, even if the pollution is illegal. Thousands of corporate polluters are signing up. Here are excerpts from an Associated Press report on the scandal. |
Victims Barred from Suing to Recover Damages to Person or Property
A New Government-Sponsored Special Privilege -- Unlimited Illegal Pollution
Agribusiness corporations can't be sued because of the pollution or odors they may emit as long as they have entered into an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. A cadre of anti-pollution groups, including the Sierra Club, had sued, claiming that the EPA's policies allowed animal feeding operations to skirt environmental laws and only pay a nominal fine.The petitioners in the lawsuit showed that animal feeding operations pollute the air, emit terrible odors and attract hordes of flies that leave droppings on everything from cars to furniture. The groups' lawsuit maintained that the EPA did not follow proper rule-making procedures in crafting agreements between the farms and the EPA.
Zero Compensation for Victims
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected that argument in a two-to-one ruling. The court found that the EPA was exercising a valid use of the agency's enforcement discretion by entering into agreements with the corporations.
Under EPA policy, animal feeding operations --- farms where animals are raised for eggs, dairy or slaughter --- can avoid legal punishment and lawsuits for violating air emissions requirements as long as they pay a modest fee and give the government permission to monitor the facility for an EPA study of emissions from such operations.
Nearly 2,600 animal feeding operations, the majority of them hog farms, have availed themselves of the EPA's agreements.
Anti-pollution groups said the agreements have virtually deregulated emissions of hoglots, factory farms and other operations, allowing them to produce foul odors and pollute the air. "The EPA decided to give them blanket amnesty in the form of, 'You send us a check ... and we'll guarantee that no one will sue you,' " said David Bookbinder, senior attorney for the Sierra Club. "Thousands of organizations have signed up for this EPA program. It's a better deal than Scooter Libby got." [The Progress Report reminds readers -- Libby was convicted in a recent trial about treasonous acts, but Bush pardoned him.]
Other citizens, environmental and anti-pollution groups involved in the lawsuit also expressed disappointment with Tuesday's ruling. "The decision ... is another example of federal judicial hostility to environmental plaintiffs," Luke W. Cole, the executive director of the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, said in a statement. "We are reviewing the decision with our clients to determine our next course of action."
Delaying Tactics
The EPA maintains its policy is the most "effective" option while methods of tracking farm emissions are studied.
Researchers from eight universities have recently begun monitoring the emissions of animal feeding operations at 24 sites in nine states. When the 30-month study is complete, the EPA might draft air emissions standards for such operations. "The (animal feeding operations) agreements br ing us closer to ensuring clean air compliance nationwide ..." EPA spokesman Dave Ryan said in a statement. "Additionally, the first-ever national study of emissions from poultry, dairy and swine operations can continue without delay."
Environmental groups point out that under the Bush administration the EPA has been too slow in its efforts to regulate toxic emissions. Organizations with ties to the livestock industry have supported the EPA's free pollution policy, and on Tuesday applauded the court's ruling.
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Also see: Hog Farms Impose Burdens on All Citizens
Congress Continues With Corruption and Failure
The World Criticizes U.S. Protectionism, Corporate Welfare |
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