March 31, 2020 09:49 AM UTC

Yikes: EPA Blanket Okays Coronavirus-Related Pollution

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• by: Colorado Pols

Fox 31 Denver reports, how convenient:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will not punish companies for violating some pollution standards because of the new coronavirus…

“We think it’s incredibly foolish,” Collin O’Mara, president of the National Wildlife Federation, said.

O’Mara says if air pollution increases, Americans with lung illnesses will be in even greater danger.

…In a memo, the EPA says polluters will get a break if they can show how the coronavirus outbreak made it difficult to meet pollution standards.

While experts do say that some case-by-case exemptions may be needed to cope with the coronavirus outbreak, giving industry such broad license to judge whether they “have” to pollute because of COVID-19 could lead to widespread disregard for air and water pollution regulations, hazardous waste protections, and…well, all kinds of other protections you as an air-breathing water-drinking consumer do not want disregarded.

It appears the Trump administration doesn’t “let a crisis go to waste” either.