Yet another local politician has taken to the Herald Opinion page to lambaste the Environmental Protection Agency and associate blame for the Gold King Mine spill with “Washington-style politics.” (Rep. Don Coram, Herald, Aug. 30.)
An editorial in the Herald (Aug. 30) even included “Mother Nature” among the spill culprits.
The EPA, Washington and even Mother Nature are convenient, easy targets for what is too often the failure of local-style politics, the failure in the face of repeated warnings and events to place, when warranted, pressure on local industries, agencies and municipalities to act prudently in terms of their environmental impact or responsibilities.
Indeed, most do act responsibly, without pressure or coercion.
Sometimes, however, it is the failure of local leaders and politicians to exert pressure on less responsible actors that brings Washington-style politics into the picture.
While assigning blame, let’s not get so diverted by the vague specters of Washington and Mother Nature that we miss the larger lesson that the real problems.
Real solutions to many of our environmental problems are much closer to home than some are willing to acknowledge.
Bill LeMaire
Durango
