EPA Action: Clorpyrifos Danger is Real
Friday, May 19th
(Adapted from Rogan's List)
Pass the strawberries, hold the pesticides. (Photo: Creative Commons) - See more at: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2017/04/03/state-ag-commissioner-troxler-pleased-epas-ruling-allow-brain-damaging-pesticide-crops/#sthash.sHfyYQXN.dpuf
Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide that can harm children's brains and nervous systems has been banned for home uses.
On Monday, May 22nd, a new EPA rule (calling for stricter requirements for applying restricted-used pesticides, essentially the most dangerous ones that are still allowable) was supposed to go into effect. But a week ago, May 12, EPA head Scott Pruitt announced he would delay the new rule by at least a year.
The EPA only will allow the public to comment on Pruitt's decision through the end of today, instead of the normal 30-day public comment period.
Action You Can Take Now
Tell the EPA how you feel about pushing off this regulation by entering a comment in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/15/2017-09386/pesticides-certification-of-pesticide-applicators-rule-extension-of-effective-date
It's not necessary to select a "government agency." You can write your name in the "Organization Name" field.
Tell the EPA that you care about how pesticides are regulated and want our children's health and the health of the planet protected.
The EPA has to approve the comments so you won't see yours posted immediately.
Tell the EPA: Don't Take Away Climate Protections
Friday, April 14th
(Adapted from Rogan's List, the National Law Review, and Senator Michael Bennet's website)
Take Action on Climate Change Today
Polluting Photo: Agustin Ruiz via Creative Commons.
On April 13th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is seeking comments from the public on existing regulations that the Agency should consider repealing, replacing, or modifying. 82 Fed. Reg. 17793 (Apr. 13, 2017). EPA issued the Request for Comment in response to the February 2017 Executive Order issued by President Trump, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” that seeks “to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the American people.”
Public comment is always called for when regulations are changing. The EPA is now calling for public comment on the proposed rollbacks in EPA regulations -- make your comment today at https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/regulatory-reform
Comments should “be as specific as possible, include any supporting data or other information such as cost information, provide a Federal Register (FR) or Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) citation when referencing a specific regulation, and provide specific suggestions regarding repeal, replacement or modification.”
Comments in response to the notice must be submitted by May 15, 2017. Information regarding EPA’s other regulatory reform activities can be found on the Agency’s webpage.
Bonus Action
Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) has led more than 30 U.S. Senators in the introduction of legislation to rescind President Trump's Executive Order to reverse several landmark U.S. initiatives to combat climate change.
"By halting this Executive Order, we will keep current safeguards in place to combat climate change, protect American jobs, and preserve our path toward energy independence," Bennet said.
The bill, titled the Clean Air, Healthy Kids Act, would block federal agencies from implementing the actions outlined in the Executive Order signed Tuesday by President Trump. These actions include reevaluating the Clean Power Plan, which is currently on track to provide $54 billion in climate and health benefits each year, prevent thousands of premature deaths and asthma attacks in children, reduce electricity bills for homes and businesses, and create thousands of good-paying jobs.
"This Administration is not operating in reality," Bennet said. "It is operating in the theater of the absurd, where policies have no relationships to problems, facts don't matter, and false promises to struggling Americans are just another political tactic to win a cable news cycle."
