Friday, April 22, 2005
Bush Salutes the Smokies on Earth Day
On Earth Day 2005, Bush brings his environmental message to America's most polluted national park.
How's the air today, George?
UPDATE: The big photo op was rained out. Earth to George: GO HOME.
Check out the Great Smoky Mountain Web Cam and air quality exhibit. It's not pretty.
Facts (from American Progress Action Fund):
The president's "Clear Skies" initiative means more hazy parks. The administration's Clear Skies Act eliminates a key provision of the Clean Air Act program that requires old, polluting power plants to install modern emissions controls. "Clear Skies" offers no specific alternative to clean up these older, highly polluting plants. It delays other sources of park pollution, such as older refineries, incinerators, steel mills, and pulp and paper plants, from cleaning up for 20 more years in exchange for comparatively minor air pollution reductions. It also prohibits park superintendents from commenting on permits for major new sources of air pollution that are located more than 31 miles from large parks. Virtually all of the power plant pollution that harms the Great Smoky Mountains comes from plants outside the proposed 31-mile review perimeter.
Simplified Facts:
The Toxic Texan is a pollutin' hypocrite. Clear Skies = Clear Lies.
