Gee, I am so confused as to why observers of the EPA would ever bring up the ugly phrases like “Systemic Corruption”, and “continuous Conflict of Interest”, or why smaller businesses like Blommers get cited by the EPA for pollution, but not coal plants who spew much more toxic emissions. No reason, really, just appearances after all.
A 2003 ethics law bars state employees from working for companies they formerly regulated for at least one year. [Renee] Cipriano left the state payroll on June 30, but an EPA spokeswoman argued Wednesday that the law doesn't apply to Cipriano's new job lobbying for a power company subject to scores of environmental regulations.
glad we cleared that up.
Chicago Tribune | EPA chief turns coal lobbyistAs director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Renee Cipriano pushed for tough limits on the mercury pollution that contaminates every river, stream and lake in the state. Six months after she left state government, Cipriano still is talking about mercury. Only now she's working for a power company that's trying to scuttle mercury standards proposed last month by her former boss, Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
In yet another example of state officials passing through a revolving door between government and special interests, Cipriano is one of two former top Blagojevich aides hired as utility lobbyists, according to recently filed registration forms.
A third Blagojevich confidant continues to represent Midwest Generation, owner of five coal-fired power plants in the Chicago area, while acting as chief spokesman for the governor's re-election campaign. Cipriano said she and others in her Chicago law firm were hired by St. Louis-based Ameren to work on a variety of issues, including Blagojevich's proposal to cut mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants by 90 percent within three years.
...Ameren and other utilities argue that the state's rules would cost too much and provide few, if any, health benefits. The companies back a less stringent national proposal from the Bush administration that would give them until at least 2018 to reduce emissions by 70 percent.
oh, goody, more mercury now, instead of less mercury later! I mean, what's the big rush to reduce toxic emissions? Energy companies are so cash poor at the moment, what with their record profits and all. Lets wait a few years before enacting any restrictions, and maybe the Rapture will happen first.
...Doug Scott, Cipriano's successor at the Illinois EPA, said he doesn't find anything unusual about Cipriano, Curry and Scofield lining up on the opposite side of an issue from the governor.“These are all good people and we like them,” Scott said. “They're in the private sector now and they're representing clients. There's nothing unusual about that.”
yes, all sarcasm aside, this is the exact problem. There isn't anything unusual about government officials leaving to get lucrative jobs with the companies they used to regulate. I think it is sickening.
Coal-fired power plants, including seven owned by Ameren, largely are responsible for Illinois ranking fifth in the nation in emissions of mercury, a toxic metal that can affect health, particularly in young children.Mercury falls into waterways, where bacteria convert it into a potent form that becomes more dangerous as it moves up the food chain. The highest levels generally are found in predator fish such as bass, pike and walleye.
The mercury problem is bad enough in Illinois that pregnant or nursing women, young children and women of childbearing age are warned to limit eating fish caught in all state waters to one meal a week. About a dozen lakes and rivers are so contaminated that some kinds of fish should be eaten only once a month.
Enlisting current and former members of Blagojevich's inner circle reflects the high-stakes attempt by power companies to thwart the governor's mercury proposal, which would impose the most stringent standards in the nation.
Public health groups and environmental activists are backing the governor's plan, noting that there have been several successful tests of mercury controls at coal plants. Most involve relatively inexpensive equipment that filters mercury particles.
“We're disappointed these companies are choosing to fight instead of cleaning up,” said Jack Darin, director of the Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club. “We would be a lot healthier if these companies spent their money on pollution controls instead of spending it on lawyers and lobbyists.”
Tags: Chicago, /corruption, /environment
