On March 27, the Center for Progressive Reform joined environmental justice, public health, and community advocates in calling out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for suspending enforcement of our nation's crucial environmental laws. The agency made the move as part of the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, despite mounting evidence that increased air pollution worsens COVID-19, the disease the virus causes.
Not missing the opportunity to use the crisis as an excuse to press its assault on our safeguards, the EPA said last week that it would not "seek penalties for noncompliance with routine monitoring and reporting obligations" for an indefinite period of time. As the coalition of groups noted, the order is broad and "relieves polluting and hazardous industries from meeting environmental standards during the coronavirus outbreak, with no end date in sight."
The enforcement suspension will almost certainly lead to increased pollution and with it, a host of very real health challenges, challenges that will disproportionately harm low-income communities and communities of color. These communities already bear an outsized burden of air and water pollution, lung and heart problems that are both associated with such pollution and increase the risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms, and frequently lack access to health care services.
The move could also increase the risk of chemical disasters as safety and reporting lapses go unaddressed, with nearly 40 percent of Americans living within three miles of a high-risk chemical or industrial facility.
Rob Verchick, President of CPR's Board of Directors, said, "It's no surprise that this administration, though unable to muster an effective public health response to a pandemic, has no difficulty opening the sluice gates for polluters by announcing that it plans to simply look the other way when industry breaks the law. Filing paperwork late is one thing, but 'forgive and forget all' is no way to protect Americans from harmful pollution."
Other groups joining the call against EPA's free pass for polluters include the Environmental Justice Health Alliance, Clean Power Lake County, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Rubbertown Emergency ACTion (REACT), the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Just Transition Alliance, the Farmworker Association of Florida, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Women's Voices for the Earth, People Concerned About Chemical Safety, Urbalachian, Rose Hill Gardens Civic Association, New Castle Prevention Coalition, Delaware Concerned Residents for Environmental Justice, the Harambee House and Citizens for Environmental Justice, the Learning Disabilities Association of America, and Green America.
EPA was roundly criticized by many other environmental advocates and organizations, as well. A letter organized by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) slammed the agency for signaling to polluters that they'd get a free pass on compliance while at the same time pushing forward with an aggressive deregulatory agenda.
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Brian Gumm | March 31, 2020
On March 27, the Center for Progressive Reform joined environmental justice, public health, and community advocates in calling out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for suspending enforcement of our nation's crucial environmental laws. The agency made the move as part of the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, despite mounting evidence that increased air pollution worsens COVID-19, the disease the virus causes.
Daniel Farber | March 30, 2020
It's a truism among disaster experts that people who were disadvantaged before a disaster are also the most vulnerable during the disaster. There are aspects of the coronavirus pandemic that fit this mold. Here are some of the disparities we can expect to see.
Daniel Farber | March 26, 2020
The Trump administration's major deregulatory efforts share a common theme. They assiduously avoid having to rely on scientific or economic evidence. Confronting that evidence is time-consuming and difficult, particularly when it often comes out the other way. Instead, the administration has come up with clever strategies to shut out the evidence.
Liz Fisher, Sidney A. Shapiro | March 25, 2020
Whatever one's political views, the end goal regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) is the same – to minimize the number of people dying and suffering from severe disease. As commentators have repeatedly noted, we need genuine expertise for that. Beyond involving scientists and physicians in decision-making, there are three steps in determining what that expertise should look like and how we tap into it most effectively.
Darya Minovi | March 24, 2020
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread around the globe, the inequalities in American society have come into even sharper relief. People with low incomes who are unable to work from home risk being exposed to the virus at work or losing their jobs altogether. Their children may no longer have access to free or reduced-price meals at school. They are also less likely to have health insurance, receive new drugs, or have access to primary or specialty care, putting them at a greater risk of succumbing to the illness. As with any shock to the system – natural disaster, conflict, and now a pandemic – vulnerable populations are hit hardest and have a harder time bouncing back.
Katie Tracy | March 23, 2020
In a previous post, Katie Tracy explored five essential elements of an effective response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They included closure of all nonessential businesses, paid sick leave and family medical leave, health and safety standards for infectious diseases, hazard pay, and workers' compensation. Here are five more things we need to protect workers and our economy from the crisis.
Katie Tracy | March 23, 2020
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeps the planet, it threatens billions of people and all but promises a global economic recession of uncertain magnitude. As I'm sure you are, I’m deeply concerned about what this means for my family, my neighbors, and my broader community.
James Goodwin | March 19, 2020
Earlier this week, a group of 25 Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) Board Members, Member Scholars, and staff signed a joint letter urging Russell Vought, Acting Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to direct federal agencies to hold open active public comment periods for pending rulemakings amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter further urges Vought to extend comment periods for at least 30 days beyond the end of the crisis.
K.K. DuVivier | March 19, 2020
Offshore wind holds huge promise as a renewable electricity source. Using existing turbine technologies, the U.S. potential is 2,058,000 megawatts (MW), enough to generate double the electricity demand of the entire United States in 2015. About 80 percent of that electricity demand is along the coasts, so getting the power to the public could prove easier than transmitting it from wind-rich midwestern states. Utilities from eight states up and down the East Coast from Maine to Virginia have committed to procuring 22,500 MW of offshore wind so far, and wind power appeared poised to take off when the Department of the Interior awarded 11 commercial offshore leases in 2016.