Clean air and water are essential to our health during this pandemic and always. A new EPA policy to consider reducing enforcement of air, water and environmental regulations when a company can claim its action is a result of COVID-19 is very disturbing. I object to this policy for the following reasons:
When the health of everyone is threatened by a pandemic, having clean air, water and public land is essential to our overall health and ability to fight off disease.This policy is not a regulation or law. No public comment was allowed.No authority was cited for this change in policy.There was no end date established for this policy.Companies that claim this exemption will not be required to catch up after the period of relaxed enforcement.This policy change is a gift to oil and gas companies and is not an effort to protect the public at a time when our government should be enforcing laws and regulations that protect the public.I call on Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton to work for a recall of this policy change and to insist on strong wording in any appropriations bills; language that would require full enforcement of all laws and regulations.
During a pandemic, when we are worried about the health of everyone, laws that keep everyone from getting sick, like those protecting clean air and water and requiring careful handling of hazardous wastes, must not be relaxed.
Anne Dal VeraBayfield
