SUN EDITORIAL:

Protecting national parks

Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed air quality standard going in wrong direction

Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 | 2:06 a.m.

With two months remaining in the Bush presidency, the administration is still doing whatever it can to cause as much damage to the environment as possible. While President George Bush is looking forward to breathing clean air in Texas, where he will retire, he sure isn’t doing many favors for the rest of us.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the Environmental Protection Agency is preparing regulations that could increase the amount of industrial air pollution engulfing national parks. So much for protecting national treasures.

Current regulations call for pollution levels from coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other polluters to be monitored over three-hour and 24-hour periods so they don’t exceed certain levels during peak demand periods. The new rules would average pollution levels over a one-year period, meaning spikes that exceed clean air standards would no longer be violations.

The agency is proceeding with this lunacy even though five of its 10 regional administrators disagree with the change and four others offered written criticism. The EPA’s Southeast regional administrator, J. I. Palmer Jr., reflected the thinking of his colleagues when he wrote that the new rules “could allow greater deterioration of air quality in clean areas rather than preventing significant deterioration.”

Why, then, is the EPA insisting on the change?

It smacks of political payback for the big oil and coal interests that helped elect Bush to the White House in 2000 and 2004. But it won’t do anything but add further harm to the poor visibility in many parks.

“It’s going in the wrong direction for our efforts to try to improve air quality in the parks,” National Park Service environmental engineer Don Shepherd told the Post.

What’s more, Jan. 20, when President-elect Barack Obama takes office, is still a long way off. That’s plenty of time for the Bush administration to do even more damage to the environment, so don’t be surprised if the regressive regulations keep coming.

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By Judy

Nov. 24, 2008

9:51 a.m.

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President Bush has no conscience except that for the almighty dollar for him and his cronies. Shame on this administration, haven't they done enough damage to this country??
By Geoffrey_Lawrence

Nov. 24, 2008

10:45 a.m.

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The EPA lowered the ozone standard last year to a level that approaches background levels in many locations - thus making exceedance days almost inevitable. Lengthening the time span over which reporting is required is essentially throwing a bone to those locations. Of course, 3 hours to one year is a big jump...maybe it lowers the EPA's administrative costs or something.
By KDR81

Nov. 24, 2008

11:53 a.m.

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I think the EPA does more damage to our economy and that damage to the economy hurts our chances of saving the environment. In that respect, I then also believe that the EPAs damage to the economy vicariously damages the environment...even though it tries to help.