EPA OFFERS IMMUNITY TO FACTORY FARMS (pig polluters, rejoice!)

[Liberty Belle]

Associated Press - (1/22/05) Seeking data to enforce clean-air laws and possibly develop future regulations, the government on Friday told farms that generate huge amounts of animal waste they can escape potentially large fines if their air pollution is monitored.

The offer by the Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) is aimed at factory-style farms that process animals, particularly hog, chicken and egg operations.
<snip>

Environmentalists described EPA's offer as a "backroom deal" that will harm public health.

"Rural families have been suffering from this pollution for years, and now they will have to wait," said Ed Hopkins, environmental quality director for the Sierra Club (news - web sites). "This is an agreement of the polluters, by the polluters, and for the polluters."

Full story:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050122/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/epa_farms

I for one am disgusted that the new "Democratic Agenda" revealed today by Senator Reid does not include environmental issues. If you are sick and tired of seeing polluters get a pass from both parties while global warming cooks our planet, please call Senator Reid and your own elected officials to complain.

[wiggs]

1. These are important issues

Much of RFK Jr's book describes the problems of factory farms, the damage they do, and how the administration is complicit. Bush "gives away the farm" to these guys.

Further, you are right...it is obscene and suspicious that Reid does not include environmental issues in the democratic agenda. Only 7% of the nation wants weaker environmental laws, yet this administration has been incredibly active in doing just that. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ALONE SHOULD HAVE WON THE 2004 ELECTION....yet you couldn't get candidates on either side to talk about it. WHY????

[Liberty Belle]

2. Both sides lined their pockets with corporate campaign dough.

We have plenty of pigs at the trough at home in Washington DC.