Friday, September 28, 2012

"Incremental increases in pollution poses no significant increase in acceptable risk: SO GET USED TO IT!"

I was talking with one of the PHMSA regulators after the New Milford meeting
about the Constitution Pipeline, and he said something which I've heard
these regulators say 100x before. But for some reason it struck me.

Basically it is this:

"The air and water are ALREADY POLLUTED.
So these incremental increases in pollution
pose no significant increase in 'acceptable risk':
SO YOU SHOULD JUST GET USED TO IT."
 

How MESSED UP is this?

These regulators whose job it is to PROTECT us from harms,
get cosy with the companies they are supposed to be regulating,
and start JUSTIFYING INCREASES in pollution!!

Just as long as all the permits are filled out properly,
and the fees are paid, and everything is (allegedly) below  EPA "safe" standards.

I think we need some very powerful messaging
around this exact point:

The regulators are justifying MORE POLLUTION
instead of preventing it!



--
--
May you, and all beings
be happy and free from suffering :)
-- ancient Buddhist Prayer (Metta)

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