NYT: Scientists' Unions Say EPA Bends to Political Pressure on Pesticides

[DeepModem Mom]

Unions Say E.P.A. Bends to Political Pressure
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
Published: August 2, 2006

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 — Unions representing thousands of staff scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency say the agency is bending to political pressure and ignoring sound science in allowing a group of toxic chemicals to be used in agricultural pesticides.

Leaders of several federal employee unions say the chemicals pose serious risks for fetuses, pregnant women, young children and the elderly through food and exposure and should not be approved by Thursday, the Congressional deadline for completing an agency review of thousands of substances in pesticides.

“We are concerned that the agency has not, consistent with its principles of scientific integrity and sound science, adequately summarized or drawn conclusions” about the chemicals, union leaders told the agency administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, in a newly disclosed letter sent May 25.

The leaders also wrote that they believed that under priorities of E.P.A. management, “the concerns of agriculture and the pesticide industry come before our responsibility to protect the health of our nation’s citizens.”

Nine union leaders representing 9,000 agency scientists and other personnel around the country signed the letter. It was given to The New York Times on Tuesday by environmental advocacy organizations working on their behalf in the hope that it would arouse public outcry and increase pressure on the agency to withdraw the chemicals from use....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/02/washington/02pest.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1154491200&en=d8a7ed6a43094a83&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

[Lindacooks]

1. Typical repuke. They don't value life in any form,

and they certainly aren't interested in reducing disease and death; they get off on it.

[mom cat]

4. And they don't even care about protecting the Holy fetus!

[barb162]

2. Bush has decimated the EPA, OSHA , FEMAand other agencies

It's hurting this country

[cally]

3. k & R