Hr Bill 2218 - Coal Ash Disposal

[Al Agnew]

Well, let's see, the GOP wants to cut the EPA by a third. I don't know how many inspectors the EPA has, but if it's anything like our MO DNR, they don't have many and they are responsible for the whole country. Back when I was on the committee trying to come up with rules for in-stream gravel mining, the DNR had five inspectors for the whole state, and they had a lot of other duties besides inspecting gravel mines. So now you want the government (EPA) to do it's job, but...not TOO well because we don't want to inconvenience private business too much, but still do it well enough to keep our air and waters clean...

You can't have it both ways. Either you fund the EPA or you pay for independent inspectors or you let the companies do whatever they please.

[grizwilson]

GRiZ--Had they been given their druthers they would have done nothing. BP is not even an American Company. Had it not been for government actions they would not even have got caught.

My point exactly...

[MOPanfisher]

You would think that the companies would invest a little R&D money to find a beneficial use for the ash, if it is possible to make a profit from it they are more willing to play. Does it have any benefit for concrete, i.e. some things added to concrete make it stronger and more durable.

As for DNR inspectors they are for the most part a great group of folks, primarily they are complaint driven but if "business" slows down they have a tendency to show up at places they have had complaints on in the past just to check up on them.

[Mark]

Well, let's see, the GOP wants to cut the EPA by a third. I don't know how many inspectors the EPA has, but if it's anything like our MO DNR, they don't have many and they are responsible for the whole country. Back when I was on the committee trying to come up with rules for in-stream gravel mining, the DNR had five inspectors for the whole state, and they had a lot of other duties besides inspecting gravel mines. So now you want the government (EPA) to do it's job, but...not TOO well because we don't want to inconvenience private business too much, but still do it well enough to keep our air and waters clean...

You can't have it both ways. Either you fund the EPA or you pay for independent inspectors or you let the companies do whatever they please.

Exactly - do we really want to trust big business and the pursuit of the almighty dollar to always to the right thing with regard to the environment? We already know how that will turn out. There has to be regulations and people to enforce the regulations. And I laugh at the suggestion of creating cushy, high paying inspector jobs. Does anyone really think inspectors will be rolling in the dough? Bottom line - big business will do what it wants if left to it's own practices.

[fishinwrench]

And I laugh at the suggestion of creating cushy, high paying inspector jobs. Does anyone really think inspectors will be rolling in the dough?

I'd expect it to be a pretty darn good paying job, better than most of us here live on, with excellent benefits for the whole family to boot....and definatly "cush" (state car, gas card,reasonable hours, generous vacation pay, no sore back or busted knuckles at the end of the day, ever).

If that ain't a cushy job what is?

[Mark]

I would expect an EPA environmental inspector would have to have at least a bachelor's degree plus some lots of specific on the job training. Not a job just any yea who can do. And I doubt if the salary is $100,000+, probably more in the $60-75,000 range. A nice salary and benefit package to be sure, but I doubt if government inspectors are getting rich. Especially considering they would have to have a degree, which they paid for to get a job that is beyond manual labor.

The point remains - do you trust big business to regulate and monitor themselves? Maybe you should watch "Erin Brockovich".

[fishinwrench]

The Erin B. story is famous because there was a conclusion.

Whether there are specific inspectors hired or not there'll be no satisfactory conclusion to THIS.