Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 8 • 30th April 2004
US Accused of Regressive Environmental Policies
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The third annual assessment of US environmental policies entitled “Rewriting the Rules - The Bush Administration’s Assault on the Environment“, released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on 15 April, documents more than 150 policy actions destructive to the environment over the past year. The group argues that detrimental changes have been made to legislation undermining attempts to improve air quality, and reduce levels of atmospheric pollution and mercury contamination. “They are distributing the air that we breathe to their big contributors,” said NRDC senior attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr., referring to the way the Bush administration changes policy to appeal to campaign contributors. The report outlines how more than 50 Clinton era lawsuits and 70 criminal investigations concerning coal-fired power plants and refineries violating clean air standards were derailed. It further states that one in twelve American women of child-bearing age have mercury levels higher than the US Environmental Protection Agency’s safe level. Another concern is that a new mercury rule would require a reduction of mercury emissions by 50 percent over the next 15 years as opposed to the 90 percent reduction by 2007 as proposed under the Clinton administration. The report also cites a statement by 63 scientists, accusing the Bush administration of “deliberately and systematically” distorting scientific fact and misleading the public to further its own political objectives.
“Group Accuses US Of Rolling Back Environmental Protections,” UN WIRE, 16 April 2004.
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