JUSTICE IS FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT

EPA Won't Regulate Farm Dust After EPA dust regulation doesn't exempt farms, administrator says his agency isn't interested in regulating airborne dirt. (10/19/2006) Farm Futures staff …"We have no interest in regulating dirt," Johnson said during a meeting with Iowa farm groups Wednesday. He visited the state after Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, invited him to see how the dust rule would affect farmers. The EPA's recent rewriting of dust emissions rules did not exempt farms after scientific studies failed to determine whether or not field dust, commonly kicked up during harvest and other farm work, poses a threat to human health. Johnson says he doesn't think that dust emissions from fields would be dangerous to humans, easing farmers' fears that the EPA would interfere with farming practices. Grassley has been a vocal opponent of the EPA's failure to exempt farms from the rules, and he told farmers to pass Johnson's comments on to their state officials. The EPA will focus on dust from industrial and city sources, Johnson says. Studies have shown that dust from those sources create much stronger health risks, including links to asthma and other lung problems.”

The above article appeared in the 10-19-06 issue of FARM FUTURES. The recent fines reported in the Arizona Republic levied by Air Pollution Agencies in Maricopa County against a select and highly targeted group of manufactures appear totally disingenuous. In comparison to the “mega” amount of “airborne dirt” emanating from the thousands of acres of farm ground which go unreported and now reputedly unregulated what’s the justification for dropping the hammer on a select few manufacturers..? Is there a bonus given to the agency for its diligence in improving the quality of our air by collecting fines from a select few manufacturers, most of whom are attempting to comply with a deliberate “moving compliance target” imposed by air quality agencies in Maricopa County…?

While any form of air quality degradation is intolerable fairness ought to play a part in any enforcement action. When it is tolerable for our air quality regulators to openly and knowingly turn their back and eyes away from easily seen “air borne particle pollution” from farms, why then do they persist in attacking only a select few businesses. Entities such as APS and SRP are not included in the “round-up” of “bad-businesses” who pollute. Why not, as jointly they contribute handsomely to the degraded air quality in our state…? Might is be, they are part of the “sacred cow” select few enjoying virtual immunity from prosecution…?

Justice is not blind, justice is only for those who can afford it.