Katrina worst environmental calamity in US history - PLEASE READ

[debbierlus]

I have been a bit disappointed in Buzzflash. I have not seen any of stories posted on the boards about the environmental affects of Katrina garner home/front page coverage. I have been trying to draw attention to this aspect since the story began, I think it is critical that the progressive community make a concerted effor to demand congress immediately send down independent investigators into the environmental devastation caused by this hurricane (& lack of planning).

The oil spills occurred almost immediately after the hurricane, yet there has been only very brief mentions of there magnitude. I was able to get a call into Laura Flanders (she had not heard about it) the Sunday before last & she was able to announce further information on her show.

Please read this article & please contact your representatives to demand oversight.

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL091505environmental.5dd0ea79.html

Thanks all

[skids]

1. I'm still waiting for it to catch fire.

And wondering what color the flames will be.

[pitohui]

4. well you missed it, and the flames were orange

i can't believe you missed coverage of the huge huge fire i think it was on the tuesday or wednesday after the disaster

so maybe try search google/images for aug 31

you'll see plenty of flames alright

[skids]

6. No, I caught those. I'm wondering about the oil slick area.

The southeastern area where there are less people mulling around because almost everyone evacuated. And where there's a oil slick bigger than the valdeze.

[pitohui]

10. i don't think the oil slick is really bigger than valdez

mebbe i have a false impression of the size of valdez but i can't imagine even if the spill covered all of chalmette that it could be that big

the stories seem to get bigger on down the line, there's a telegraph game going on

[debbierlus]

9. I am not talking about fires

I am talking about the devastation to toxic water supplies & massive oil slicks!

Read the link!

[cynatnite]

2. Senator Wants EPA Rules Eased for Katrina

WASHINGTON (AP) - Legislation that would allow the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily suspend or relax its rules because of Hurricane Katrina is being prepared by the Republican chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The proposal is being readied despite EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson's assurance he has no immediate need for any regulatory waivers. Johnson gave a closed-door briefing Wednesday to the committee's chairman, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and other committee members.

snip:
Using existing authority, EPA has already suspended some of its clean-air requirements in the aftermath of Katrina to ease the flow of gasoline supplies.

A preliminary draft of Inhofe's bill proposes giving the EPA administrator power for 120 days to ``waive or modify'' any of EPA's laws and regulations if it's thought to be ``necessary to respond, in a timely and effective manner, to a situation or damage relating to Hurricane Katrina.'' Governors of affected states would have to be consulted, but the EPA administrator would have final say, according to the draft bill, still being worked on.

Environmentalists denounced the emerging proposal. ``Here comes the mother of all environmental rollbacks,'' said Frank O'Donnell, president of the Clean Air Watch advocacy group. ``This could become a blank check for big polluters. It would also be a terrible precedent.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5280826,00.html

[debbierlus]

8. Sorry - should have said US HISTORY....

I omitted that....

My apologies!

[pitohui]

3. hardly the worst enviro. calamity in history

does chernobyl ring a bell

ppl in the gulf south are experienced at cleaning oil spills, it's a bit difficult to get into some areas right now, such as the spill at murphy oil in st. bernard but ppl are aware of it & it will be handled

please don't catastrophize & give aid & comfort to those who would prefer to cheat us of $$$ to rebuild

don't encourage them to "total out" our state

there is much concern abt the huge clean-up ahead, it will be dealt w.

i would rather see ppl make accurate claims than exaggerated claims

[Angry Girl]

5. Check out these articles too

http://www.terradaily.com/news/oceans-05p.html
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL091505environmental.5dd0ea79.html
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/nation/12645969.htm
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/05/katrina/3354612
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pollute15sep15,0,4831601.story?coll=la-home-nation

Nightweed's Hurricane Katrina Aid Organizations

[Lorien]

7. Kick!