Polution Rates Rise as Rulings hamper EPA

[Stuart G]

Source: MSNBC, New York Times.

Charles Duhigg and Janet Robert

Some businesses declare law no longer applies to them, regulators say

updated 4:46 a.m. CT, Mon., March. 1, 2010
Thousands of the nation’s largest water polluters are outside the Clean Water Act’s reach because the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected by that law, according to interviews with regulators.

As a result, some businesses are declaring that the law no longer applies to them. And pollution rates are rising.

Companies that have spilled oil, carcinogens and dangerous bacteria into lakes, rivers and other waters are not being prosecuted, according to Environmental Protection Agency regulators working on those cases, who estimate that more than 1,500 major pollution investigations have been discontinued or shelved in the last four years.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35639472/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/

[fascisthunter]

1. zee corporate profits ist uber alles!!!

[Dappleganger]

2. Red Tide in the St. Johns River

Perfectly-manicured lawns share much of the blame: http://www.eco-voice.org/node/1047

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/08/17/daily45.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/conservation/news/story?page=b_con_pollution_StJohns_River_FL
http://www.theriverreturns.org/protect/solutions/


Red tide seems to be getting worse and worse each summer. The overall condition of the St. Johns is so bad that we can no longer just go for a swim without contracting a horrible, itchy rash which lingers for weeks. This of course pales in comparison to what the runoffs from fertilized lawns (which FL HOA's MANDATE be perfectly green, even during droughts), local businesses and utility companies who are not held accountable for the resulting affects upon the wildlife and water quality. It's a real damn shame that our state is treating one of its most beautiful assets worse than a toilet. :(

[Demeter]

3. the 5 Supremes Strike Again

[NYC Democrat]

4. has there ever been a court as "Activist" as this one?

[rfranklin]

5. These companies are eco-terrorists...

They are attacking Americans by poisoning the drinking water, the air and the earth.

They are terrorists and should be treated as such. Just because they hide behind the fig leaf of "business" doesn't make them any less terrorists than the people who threaten to attack us with airplanes and dirty bombs.

[AlbertCat]

6. the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected

Because it's not like they're all connected is any way, y'know.