Ooh! Look out! ChimpCo Vows Crackdown On Chicago-Area Power Plants Violating Federal Standards!

[hatrack]

I bet those fines are going to be in the THOUSANDS of dollars!!!

Coal-fired power plants in the Chicago area are shooting more pollutants into the air than allowed by federal guidelines, the Bush administration alleged Monday in the latest push to cap emissions at aging facilities on the West Side and the suburbs.

The U.S. EPA cited Midwest Generation for violating the federal Clean Air Act, allegations considered serious by both EPA officials and one local health group focused on respiratory health.

"Well, in the big picture this notice will start the process to talk with this company about putting modern pollution controls in their facilities and returning their operation to compliance," said George Czerniak, chief of air enforcement for the Region 5, Chicago-based branch of the U.S. EPA.

Midwest Generation operates five coal-fired plants in the Chicago area, including the Fisk power plant at 1111 W. Cermak, long targeted by environmental and health groups. "It's a big deal because it's the U.S. EPA doing something about it," said Joel Africk, president and CEO of the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, a research and advocacy organization dedicated to lung health.

(Ed. - emphasis added)

EDIT

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/499988,CST-NWS-toxic07.article

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Hmmm. Maybe there's an organization of birth control denying pharmacists nearby with asthma problems

either that, or the smog from the plants is obstructing the view of one of the many apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary on various cracked underpasses on the Eisenhower Expy.

Otherwise, I can't fathom why Bush would give half a shit.

[hatrack]

2. Probably showing how "dedicated" he is to a clean environment before the Climate Hootenanny

After all, with just over a month to go, you want to at least look like you care.

I'm sure this will be made to go away come October. They'll do arbitration, or an out-of-court settlement, or drop the case, or something like that.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

3. Brings to mind the first scandal of the Bush Administration back in 2001

There have been so many, that the Koch scandal has now almost been completely forgotten. It involved Koch Energy, the largest private energy company in the United States and one of Chimpy's biggest campaign contributors next to Enron.

The Clinton Administration had levied more than a third of a BILLION dollars in fines against Koch and had brought charges against its executives that, if resulting in convictions would have totalled almost 100 years behind bars. While Bush was Governor of Texas, Koch Energy was guilty of releasing 93 metric tons of carcinogens into the environment in Texas.

A couple of months after Bush came into office, he had his justice department drop all charges against Koch and had them pay a fine of a mere $25 million (compared to $375 million) and dropped all criminal charges against Koch's executives.

Koch contributed almost $1 million to the Republican Party and $0 to Democrats. When asked if Bush would return his campaign contributions from Koch, Ari Fleischer said the company is to be distinguished from the executives (and the contributions came from the executives who had all charges dropped against them). Koch is a 100% family-owned business where the executives are indistinguishable from the company.

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0523-05.htm

[Javaman]

4. What? they aren't polluting enough?? nt

[wordpix]

5. "this notice will start the process to talk with this company"---how about fine the bastards, EPA?

AFter all, it was "long targeted," so the company must've had some warnings already, right?

Uh, maybe not under King Gorge's EPA.