DNREC Cautioned Not To Join The Race To The Bottom On Air Quality

I concur with this letter published yesterday in the News Journal ~ Rethink credits for pollution reduction

While true that much of our pollution problem in Delaware is caused by emissions in other states, I think that’s a very poor rationale for relaxing emissions standards locally. Are we to seri­ously consider trading a poten­tial benefit that depends on which way the wind blows for near certainty of increased local pollution with its impact on the health of Delaware’s citizens? Let’s weigh the potential bene­fits against the increased suffer­ing and health care costs that any parent of a child with asth­ma knows all too well. We should continue to locally address the two most common types of air pollution in Delaware: ozone and particulate matter. Many steps can still be taken, such as devis­ing traffic control systems that minimize idling, ensuring that our system of public transporta­tion is a viable and attractive op­tion for people unwilling or un­able to pay for $4-plus per gallon gas, and requiring all diesel equipment to have a soot filter. Leveling the unfair business playing field is important, but I’d rather that our elected and appointed officials work harder at the federal level to address the significant problem of inter­state emissions than join a race to the bottom on air quality.

Peter W. Brakhage

Newark

Brakhage is responding to (News Journal) Jeff Montgomery's story ~ Delaware makes big gambit over smog rule in contesting EPA

Aug 19, 2013 - EPA contested over needto buy pollution credits ... from the west, O'Mara said, “has a negative impact on Delaware's air quality and economy.”.

And news from delaware's office of environmental protection, 5/7/13

May 29, 2013 - DNREC also plans to relax the permit condition that .... potential to emit air pollutants, and the limit will be enforceable by the EPA and the state.

Also read: Barbara Finnan's News Journal Community View: DNREC's DE City Refinery Permit Hearing

Lower Delaware 'cancer cluster' study highlights impact of out-of-state polluters [video]

 Also interesting.....Governing Delaware: Policy Problems in the First State - Page 173 - Google Books Result

William W. Boyer - 2000 - ‎Political Science

... but to relax enforcement of the laws and programs it was charged to administer. ... Act Pollution Prevention Act As noted in chapter 9, Delaware for some time ...

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