History explains why the EPA media blackout and new oversight puts your family at risk.

It is a historical fact that in 1926, the federal government’s public health service lied to the public stating that leaded gasoline posed “no danger”. The service went on to say that there was “no reason to prohibit the sale of leaded gasoline”, and revoked all bans on its production and sale. Yet just two years earlier, the New York Forensic Toxicology Department (the best in the country mind you), determined that lead was extremely dangerous and it was subsequently banned by New York, New Jersey, and the city of Philadelphia.

At that time, the governments of every country in Europe protected their citizens by banning this additive in gasoline. Our government failed to do so under pressure from the petroleum and automative industries that would rather lose American lives than lose profits.

In 1963, The Clean Air Act, was finally signed into law to protect American lives from disease and death caused by excessive pollution. This was a very good thing. In 1970, the act was expanded to include more good things — further protections for Americans, including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and (finally!) the phase-out lead-based gasoline.

But it wasn’t until 1986, 60 years after the discovery of lead as a threat to human life, that the U.S. formally banned its use in gasoline. 60 years!! Of course by then, so much led has polluted our soils and cities, that an estimated 68 million children would register toxic levels of lead absorption.

This week, the minority president enacted measures that when take together mean that important protections of American health and safety are being lifted. The Trump Administration ordered the following:

1. A media blackout for the Environmental Protection Agency that bans all press releases and social media posts.
2. An order freezing all EPA grants and contracts.
3. An order attempting to fasttrack the completion and operation of the Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines. (In researching the possible environmental impacts of these pipelines, I came across this list of pipeline accidents in the US in the 21st Century. What’s most disturbing is not that they number in the hundreds. What’s most disturbing is that the numbers have gone up in the last few years. This suggests that the companies responsible are not taking the measures necessary to limit accidents, leaks, or spills. Based on this data, there will absolutely be an environmental accident with the Dakota Access Pipeline, it is simply a matter of when.)
4. An order that any studies or data from EPA scientists undergo review before being released to the public. (Sound familiar? This same thing happened in 1924 when The U.S. Bureau of Mines, General Motors, DuPont, and the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation gave GM control over the leaded gasoline research reports, stipulating that “‘all manuscripts, before publication, will be submitted to the Company for comment, criticism, and approval”.)

The EPA has a scientific integrity document that “prohibits managers and other Agency leadership from intimidating or coercing scientists to alter scientific data, findings or professional opinions or inappropriately influencing scientific advisory boards.” Looks like that part is being crossed out.

What’s more problematic is that the purpose of these policies are out of alignment with their stated intention. In other words, deregulating the gas and coal industry to increase energy sector jobs is a very bad idea. What is a good idea is investing in solar and wind power. While construction of pipelines employs thousands of people, the pipelines themselves run mostly on automation. Once completed, a gas pipeline only requires 35 full time employees. Compare that with wind and solar which are much more labor intensive and are more effective at stimulating the economy while protecting our citizens.

I get it. Regulation stands in the way of economic progress. But at what cost? We are not just talking about protecting endangered animals like tiger salamanders and bald eagles. We are not talking about hippies dancing around trees. These laws exist to save your life, whether you are an out of work Texas coal-miner or a Berkeley educated environmentalist.

Just how effective has the Environmental Protection Agency been at helping you out? Well let’s look at how much money you’ve saved. In 1992, the EPA launched the Energy Star program to assist consumers with energy-efficient products, including new homes, appliances, computers, and heating and cooling systems. In the 25 years since this program has been in place, Americans have saved over $20 Billion on their energy bills.

But the agency doesn’t just save you money, it’s there to save your life and the lives of your children. Thousands of adults used to die annually from lead-induced heart disease. By 1995, the percentage of children with elevated levels of lead in their blood had dropped from 88% to 4% according to data compiled by the CDC. From 1970 to 1990, lead reductions due to the Clean Air Act prevented over 200,000 deaths. And that’s just one of the many protections that the EPA provides for you and your family’s health, safety and well-being.

It’s time to write your elected official and demand that the EPA be put back the way it was when it was still working for all of us. Unless of course, you have something besides air to breathe.