Utah Government Denies Request To Catch Fish For Mercury Testing

[hatrack]

An environmental group says it will fight a state ruling that blocks an independent study of toxic mercury in fish from the Great Salt Lake Basin. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), in consultation with the Department of Health and the Division of Water Quality, rejected a permit request by the group - the Great Salt Lakekeeper - to catch fish for the mercury analysis.

It really boils down to years of opposition by the Division of Water Quality to citizen monitoring," said Jeff Salt, whose group is part of a nationwide coalition of 137 organizations focused on protecting lakes, rivers, bays and coastlines. The state says it is already working on solving the mercury puzzle and doesn't want the public to be confused by studies that might conflict.

EDIT

Tests done by the U.S. Geological Survey and announced in February showed the lake has the highest levels of mercury pollution ever found in the environment. There has been a scramble ever since to determine the extent of contamination and what should be done.

EDIT

But Salt said the state is afraid of looking bad. "DNR's denial is nothing more than an orchestrated smokescreen to keep the people of this state from finding out about mercury levels in their waterways and fish," he said. "The state doesn't own a monopoly on gathering natural resource information, and they don't have any legal basis for denying us the permit."

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http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2951485

[shoelace414]

1. hold hand over hears

"LA LA LA LA LA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU"

[phantom power]

2. Reminds me quite a bit of a certain gambit regarding Glen Canyon

Every year, congress passes a law that specifically forbids any federal money from being allocated toward conducting an environmental impact study of the effects of decomissioning Glen Canyon Dam.

It's not enough to disagree with the idea. They want to make sure the idea can't even be discussed. Come to think of it, I guess that's just SOP for the modern GOP. As I recall, it's a also a Utah senator who is responsible for this yearly law.