Number of EPA Investigators Dropping
Not entirely surprising given the rest of the Bush administrations actions. More like a another signpost of their Corporation-friendly policies, and another nail in our collective coffin.
Fewer U.S. environmental cops are tracking criminal polluters these days, their numbers steadily dropping below levels ordered by Congress.
. . .
The EPA's overall criminal caseload - investigations that could lead to prosecutions later - is declining, according to the agency's figures. It has opened fewer investigations every year since 2002, when there were 484 new investigations and 216 agents. Last year, the number of new cases fell to 305.
The 1990s saw an overall increase in new criminal investigations and increases in the number of agents during seven of 10 years.
"It is difficult to believe that environmental crime suddenly declined precipitously after Bush took office. It is more likely that the administration's enthusiasm for criminal prosecution declined," said Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce committee, who spearheaded the 1990 law.
Fewer agents doing fewer investigations. What could possibly go wrong?
This is consistent with just about every other action this Administration has taken. If you don't like how something is going, stop releasing reports on it, or stop investigating it, or block oversight of it. Basically, remove the accountability. I don't even want to think how long it will take to repair the damage these guys have wrought.
