The Environmental Protection Agency was signed into law by Richard Nixon in 1970, it was a needed agency, our rivers, lakes, forests and the air were becoming unlivable and certain standards were called for. I have to say that the EPA did clean up all the things that needed to be cleaned, but as usual the Government does not know when to stop and it now has become a monster and creates havoc wherever it goes.
Just recently, a task force including members of 10 state and federal law enforcement agencies descended on a gold mine in the tiny town of Chicken Alaska with a population of 17 last month, in what locals described as a raid. “Imagine coming up to your diggings, only to see agents swarming over it like ants, wearing full body armor, with jackets that say “POLICE” emblazoned on them, and all packing side arms,” gold miner C.R. Hammond told the Alaska Dispatch. “How would you have felt? You would be wondering, ‘My God, what have I done now?”
According to the EPA The investigation was into possible violations of the Clean Water Act. The officers were part of the Alaska Environmental Crimes Task Force and visited the outpost near the Canadian border during the third week of August to investigate water discharges into rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. This is how the EPA handles an investigation, with rifles, handguns and bullet proof vests? What happened to having an inspector going to the site and inspect what is going on, did they not handle it like the Gestapo from Nazi Germany?
In another raid around a dozen agents from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies entered Crestwood’s village hall and public works department in Chicago around 9 a.m., remaining there into the afternoon to look for evidence of any crimes related to allegations the village knowingly drew drinking water from a tainted well. Again, was a raid necessary, do agents have to burst in like storm troopers, or would an inspector be the way to go?
There are many more stories like these, agents bursting in with guns drawn because they think there might be an infraction. However, it is not only raids, the EPA has the power to levy fines, stop production, halt buildings from being erected, they have a war chest full of laws and regulations, all too supposedly help the American people. Environmental regulations do impose compliance costs on businesses, and can raise prices, which hurt economic growth.
According to National Economic Research Associates, seven of EPA’s regulations for power plants would cost the electricity sector roughly $200 billion in compliance costs and destroy at least 544,000 jobs annually. Due in part to EPA regulations, almost 300 coal-fueled generating units in 32 states have announced they will be shutting down. This is equivalent to shuttering the combined electricity supply of 11 states.
Look, I think that the EPA was a good idea, but like everything Government puts its hands on, it grew much too big and way to powerful. No matter if it is the land, sea or air, the EPA is going to find a way to regulate it. There are calls to abolish the EPA, but that I think would be foolish, the better thing to do is to take away most of its power. We should turn it into an advisory agency, let them just recommend what needs to be done, take away their power to raid any business they choose and put people out of work
This country would have an abundance of energy and an abundance of jobs if it were not for the EPA, drilling and fracking can be a boom to this country. It is said that we have more energy sources in this country to last over 300 years, so what the hell are we waiting for?
Oh yea, we need to dismantle the EPA first and get Obama out of office.
“What Kind Of Society Are We Leaving Our Kids” Available here.
This is one man’s opinion.
