The Boston Globe reports that Massachusetts leaders are pushing back against the federal administration’s aggressive moves to “give polluters a free pass.” In a February 13th article by reporter Tonya Alanez, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is cited as one of the most forceful opponents of new Environmental Protection Agency actions to repeal science-based rulings that have long governed emissions from vehicles, power plants, factories, and more.
Senator Ed Markey is quoted as saying, “Trump and [Lee] Zeldin are rejecting the science, the law, and judicial precedent through this reckless repeal of the endangerment finding. It’s disgraceful, dishonest, and disrespectful that Trump and Zeldin are giving polluters a free pass while making working families pick up the tab for climate disasters and health care bills.”
According to the article, “AG Campbell issued a statement saying the administration continues to rely on ‘flawed and unscientific sources to deny climate change.‘
EPA’s unlawful rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding shows just how far this administration will go to grant favors to polluters — ignoring clear Supreme Court precedent, basic facts, and decades of scientific research, all at the expense of our health and welfare.
The endangerment finding already has been upheld by the US Supreme Court.‘
Two decades ago, the state attorney general’s office ‘led the fight to force the federal government to protect the American people from the proven dangers of greenhouse gas emissions. And we will lead once again against the Trump Administration’s attempt to walk away from that responsibility.’
I’ll see them in Court,‘ she said.”
Local environmental organizations have been just as outspoken:
“GreenRoots, an environmental protection organization in Chelsea, said the revocation was ‘another huge blow to environmental, climate, and public health advances.
We see firsthand in communities like Chelsea and East Boston how air pollution, decades of contamination and industrial toxins are severely impacting the health of our residents. Cancer, asthma, COPD and major cardiovascular disease are all correlated to these environmental exposures which we will see more of with this decision. While this Administration touts itself on its purported prioritization of the health of the American people, it is reversing all health and environmental protections which will have life-affecting impacts for generations to come.‘”
Read the full report.
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