NYT: E.P.A. Offers an Amnesty if Big Farms Are Monitored

[DeepModem Mom]

E.P.A. Offers an Amnesty if Big Farms Are Monitored
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
Published: January 22, 2005


WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 - The Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that it would shield operators of large livestock operations from prosecution from air pollution violations if they participated in a new program to collect emissions data from their farms.

The information gathered from the participants would be used to determine which of the thousands of factory farms, known as animal feeding operations or A.F.O.'s, violate the Clean Air Act or other environmental laws.

The voluntary program is a stark departure from the current strategy of focused prosecutions. As an inducement to join it, the agency assures operators that they will not be sued for current violations during the program's two years of monitoring....

***

Some critics said the agency needed to enforce laws more aggressively....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/22/politics/22enviro.html

[xxqqqzme]

1. guess their korporate kampaign kontributions

were adequate.

[diamond14]

2. Clean Air Act is minor compared to CLEAN WATER ACT and

and SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (solid waste disposal).....the air pollution can blow away a bit and actually neutralize acid rain...but the WATER POLLUTION is ghastly and pollutes DRINKING WATER for many miles downstream.....

pretending that doing a little air testing SOLVES this disaster is just typical of the bush* EPA....gutted at all levels...

[UL_Approved]

3. One of the biggest corporate crimes in America

This is one that is not discussed often enough. Small farms are being eliminated all over this country. All of these measures to give a handout to corporate farming are destroying rural America. They take away any chance of having a level playing field when it comes to staying in business. Sadly, many farmers are Republican. They don't understand who authors and signs this legislation. I really hope that these kinds of bills are fought in congress.

[annabanana]

4. This is part of the Coronation News Dump!

Be on the lookout for STUFF WE SHOULD KNOW that has been slipped under the radar during that vulgar extravaganza!