6 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

1. This is from "Nation of Change".

   EPA Inspector General confirms regional office justified in legal intervention to protect water.

    

   Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General found EPA Region 6 was justified in legally intervening to protect Parker County, TX residents’ drinking water from drilling impacts. At Sen. Inhofe’s (R-OK) request, the Inspector General investigated to determine if Region 6’s intervention against Range Resources was due to political influence by the Obama administration.

   “The EPA’s internal watchdog has confirmed that the EPA was justified in stepping in to protect residents who were and still are in imminent danger,” said Sharon Wilson, Gulf regional organizer of Earthworks. “Now we need an investigation as to whether political corruption caused EPA to withdraw that protection.” (emphasis, mine)

   The EPA invoked its power to protect drinking water in 2010, prompting Oklahoma Sen. Inhofe to request the Inspector General’s investigation in 2011. The EPA withdrew its legal complaint against Range Resources in 2012 despite having a report from an independent scientist showing that a gas well drilled by Range likely polluted nearby water supplies.
   .

   The EPA’s withdrawal from Parker County appears to be part of a larger pattern, in which the Obama administration has blocked or abandoned investigations of whether drilling or hydraulic fracturing polluted drinking water. In addition to the case in Parker County, reports in major news outlets indicate that the Obama administration caused the EPA to abandon studies of potential drilling or fracking pollution in Pavillion, WY and Dimock, PA despite evidence of drilling-related harm.

   Just prior to the release of the Inspector General report, the Texas Railroad Commission (regulator of oil and gas, not railroads) opened an investigation into the case. The EPA intervened in 2010 to protect area drinking water only after the commission refused to do so. The Commission’s new investigation prevents the EPA from legally intervening now as it did in 2010.

   “Regulators shouldn’t have to be pressured into doing their job to protect people like me from drilling impacts,” said Shelly Perdue, a Parker County resident with drilling-polluted drinking water. “If what has happened to me is happening to others, I completely understand why communities across the country are voting to ban fracking and drilling.”

   “Releasing this report at noon on Christmas Eve shows the Obama administration is obviously embarrassed by its findings,” said Earthworks energy program director Bruce Baizel. “As they should be. The withdrawal of Obama’s EPA is an abject failure of its mission to protect Americans’ health and environment.”

   http://www.nationofchange.org/inspector-general-finds-epa-justified-intervening-protect-drinking-water-fracking-1387983304#comments

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2. I'm guessing, what with the holidays and all, this story never got the attention here that it should.  When you look back over Christmas 2013, please remember to say a big thankyou for our Secretary of State — Scott Gessler, the Colorado Christmas gift that never stops giving taking . . . 

   http://www.denverpost.com/election2012/ci_24785750?source=bb

   and, lest you forget this blast from the past, I truly do mean "never" . . . 

   http://www.denverpost.com/ci_17199240

   In all fairness, the dude is an attorney; we're probably being unfair expecting him to be able to manage a budget . . . (or, really, even balance a checkbook). 

   (My sincere apologies BTW — I am nearly always loathe to provide a link to our front-range advertising circular, let along two, but this story shouldn't be ignored.)

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   1. At least some of the legislators asked the right questions, but it doesn't appear Gessler was willing or able to provide answers:

      Some lawmakers asked how much the office has spent defending Gessler on ethics charges and challenges to its rule-making authority, as well as the cost of investigating whether noncitizens illegally voted.

      Read more: Colorado secretary of state blames new elections law for budget woes – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_24785750/colorado-secretary-state-blames-new-elections-law-budget#ixzz2ocbh8qOu
       

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      1. Apparently they were either very limited on time for this pre-holiday hearing, or none of our lawmakers was interested in a really good laugh, because it seems that no one took Gessler up on his offer to show his "math" ??!!??

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3. David's Mom gets a mention

   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-26/utilities-feeling-rooftop-solar-heat-start-fighting-back.html

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4. Here's another great list for 2013.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/26/stupid-politics-2013_n_4461876.html

   The 29 Stupidest Things That Happened In Politics This Year
   

   Hint:  it was a banner year for the GOTP — But I'm sure they will find a way to top this in 2014. 

   Hopefully the election results will reflect same 😉

    

    

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