(Editor's note: David Bruderly is a local professional engineer who has worked hard for over 25 years to protect the environment. He has cleaned up chemical disasters (of both government agencies and private business.) He has built power plants and subdivisions meeting tough state and federal environmental standards. Following are excerpts from his letter to Sen. Bob Graham on the dangers to Florida and the nation of new Congressional actions to overturn laws protecting the environment and the people whose lives depend of clean air, water and resources produced by the ecosystems.)
New Congresspeople may not be educated on environmental problems, but the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Solid and Hazardous Waste Act, and even the "Superfund" have worked. Our environment is much cleaner than it was 25 years ago. Consistent federal standards and effective enforcement (with tough civil and criminal penalties have forced businesses to recognize that environmental protection is a legitimate cost of business. It would be a huge mistake to eliminate uniform and consistent federal environmental safety and public health standards. They have worked and have protected and created sustainable jobs.
Responsible businesses have made tough decisions to clean up past mistakes and prevent future ones--and have prospered. Investments in cleaner new technology and management techniques have created many new products and sustainable jobs. Many businesses have found environmental protection is good business. It would be wrong to penalize responsible firms by lowering expectations and standards.
Federal programs have not been perfect and, in a few cases, the system has been unfair to a few individuals or businesses. I believe there is a need to fine-tune (not eliminate) many laws.
REWRITE SOME PROCEDURES
Some regulations should be rewritten to allow businesses to take more cost-effective and holistic approaches--such as protection of habitats and ecosystems. Also, regulatory agencies could offer incentives for companies to implement voluntary pollution prevention and sustainable development practices.
Streamlining to reduce costs and bureaucracy--but still protect ecosystems and human health--should be pursued.
However, a few powerful, but ignorant or greedy large businesses--and many small ones--have taken the easy way out. They have launched a political effort to eliminate key laws and programs in the name of states' rights, property rights and free enterprise.
WHY REWARD THE GREEDY?
Special interests want to eliminate laws preventing them from reaping profits by exploitating and abusing public resources--no matter what the cost to society. Why should Congress reward people who shirk their responsibility because they now have the political muscle? Such cynical action will punish the responsible businesses.
I am extremely upset by the new Republicans in the House yielding to ideological hysteria rather than scientific logic and reason. I strongly object to House action with respect to the Clean Waster Act, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act that will foul Florida air and water and destroy of the state ecosystems.
CLEAN WATER ACT
The House, to placate business and real estate speculators, has passed laws to destroy cost-effective environmental programs built on 20 years of scientific research. Basic protection for fresh water and coastal wetlands and estuaries has been eliminated.
Scientists from all of Florida's universities agree that insidious chemical contamination of our air and waters is affecting aquatic organisms and has the potential to destroy the biochemical foundation of human life--our ability to reproduce.
Politicians must not vote on a single environmental bill until talking with Dr. Louis Guillette at the University of Florida about causes of reproductive problems of state reptiles and the Florida Panther. Sterile alligators are now found in the Apopka area.
CLEAN AIR ACT
The new reformers want to eliminate the Clean Air Act--because of infringement on states' rights. Again, ideology conflicts with science and economic efficiency. Cars and trucks cause over 60% of our cities' air pollution. Besides ozone and greenhouse gases' problems, scientists cite chemicals like polynuclear hydrocarbons from diesel exhaust as major threats to public health.
We know we must get serious about cleaning up cars and trucks to clean up the air. This can't be done cost-effectively on a state-by-state basis. This industry represents over 15% of the national economy and depends on mass production.
Tough national standards and programs are essential if the automotive and trucking industry is to make a cost-effective conversion to cleaner fuels and technology.
Claims that individual states are uniquely qualified to regulate mobile source pollution is political hogwash. Scientists developing clean air plans for the Washington-Baltimore region have determined that total emissions from vehicles must be reduced by over 60% to achieve current health-based standards.