The EPA is blowing smoke
In its April 16 editorial, “EPA must balance its role as environmental watchdog,” the Observer-Reporter correctly points out that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s statement on achieving both a healthy environment and job growth was “at best wishful thinking and at worst disingenuous.”
In my opinion, “disingenuous” gets the nod.
Pruitt’s agenda is clear. Get the federal government out of environmental regulation and give regulatory authority to the states. This, of course, allows the deep pockets of the fossil fuel companies to sway state politicians to bend or eliminate the environmental regulations they find most onerous. Will this revive the coal industry? No, and unless it is completely blind to reality, the Trump administration knows this. Its posturing is clearly disingenuous and self-serving.
The certain outcomes of this deregulation initiative are increases in premature death rates and pollution-related illnesses. The facts are clear. Between 122,500 and 200,000 people died in the U.S. prematurely from pollution-related causes in 2011. According to the American Lung Association, nearly 4 in 10 Americans live in counties that have unhealthful levels of either ozone or particle pollution. The World Health Organization estimates that 12.6 million people died globally in 2012 from living or working in an unhealthy environment.
Yes, as your editorial suggests, fossil fuels will not disappear anytime soon. But they should disappear sooner rather than later. Western Pennsylvania has some of the worst air in the nation. Do the math, cross your fingers, and hope that you or someone you love isn’t the next victim of this flawed policy.
Richard D. Ankney
Pittsburgh