What happens when you put an industry lobbyist in charge of
environmental protection? Just take a look at what’s going on in Maine.
According to an article in today’s Portland Press-Herald, the state’s
Department of Environmental Protection wants to weaken the state’s clean-air
regulations, and they don’t want anyone to know about it.
No public hearings have been scheduled, and a notice of a
public comment period was buried in an obscure part of the agency’s website.
At first glance it might seem surprising that an agency
charged with protecting the environment would actually work against it. It only
makes sense when you see the cast of characters involved.
First, there’s Gov. Paul LePage, perhaps not the brightest
bulb on the tree. Elected in 2010, he immediately released a list of
environmental regulations he wanted to eliminate or weaken. Much like former
Pres. G.W. Bush, he wanted to turn back the environmental clock back a decade
or more. LePage also supported opening up 10 million acres of Maine wilderness
for development.
To help him in his quest, he appointed Deborah Aho, an industry
lobbyist, as his DEP commissioner. She had previously represented chemical, drug, oil, and
automobile companies. Apparently she continued working on their behalf as
commissioner, failing to enforce existing regulations and making decisions that
would benefit her former clients.
So much so, that a petition was sent to the legislature calling for an investigation into her apparently unethical activities. A bill was filed to look into the allegations, but within
days the legislator who had filed it, withdrew it, saying it needed revisions.
It hasn’t been refiled since.
No comments:
Post a Comment