The Week's Highlights In Good Ol' Fashioned Corporate Villainy

Cross-posted from Treehugger

The Greedy Coal Company that
Overlooks It's Employees Safety
for Profit
29 employees were killed in an
explosion. Company's boss Don
Blankenship found safety concerns
to be a nuisance.

The Shipping Company that Took
a Shortcut through the Barrier
Reef-and Crashed
Coal- carrying vessel smashed into
part of the Great Barrier Reef.

Oil Company Revealed to Spend
Millions to Confuse Public About
Science
$50 million dollars into funding

public campaigns designed  to

confuse the public about climate

science. Good ol' Koch Industries.

Biggest Private Company in the

World Didn't Pay Federal Taxes

in 2009

ExxonMobil doesn't pay any

federal income taxes.

18,000 Gallon Oil Spill in Wildlife 

Refuge

Chevron's oil pipeline ruptured,

spewing crude into a pristine

wildlife refuge.http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/week-highlights-old-fashioned-corporate-villainy.php 

Chronic Illness Liknked To Coal-Mining Pollution Study Shows

Science Daily
  "Residents of coal mining com-
munities have long complained
of impaired health," Michael Hendryx
Ph.D, associate director of the WVU
Institute for Health Policy Research
in WVU's Community Medicine
department, said. "This study sub-
stantiates their claims. Those
residents are at an increased risk
of developing chronic heart, lung
and kidney diseases."
. have a 70% increased risk for de-
veloping kidney disease
. a 64% increased risk  for developing
chronic obstructive pulmonary dis-
ease(COPD) such as emphysema.
. are 30% more likely to report
high blood pressure  (hypertension).
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080326201751.htm

EPA Broadens Study of Fracking Industry Ire Boils

The EPA begins public hearings in Washington
today about it's study of hydraulic fracturing,
which could sway Congress on whether or
not to repeal an exemption for the process
in the Safe Drinking Water Act.
   By Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, Guest
Writer, 4-07-10.
  The Oil & Gas Industry strongly opposes
this new approach. Plans for the study have
attracted international attention and have
been the focus of intense debate among law-
makers and the Oil & Gas industry. The
findings could affect Congress' decision
whether to repeal an exemption that shields
the fracturing process from federal legis-
lation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Industry received a get-out-of-jail-free
exemption from the Bush administation
that allows them to keep fracking formulas
secret and  propriatary.http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/as_epa_broadens_study_of_fracking_industry_ire_boils/C35/L35/

DON'T LET TEXAS BECOME RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMP

One of our most active members
e-mailed me about this, reading
a second time, I noticed the date,
early December. This is enough
to get me spiting mad.  How about
you?
All of the State TCEQ scientists
who worked on the permit for the west
Texas dump site, owned by Waste
Control Specialists (WCS), de-
termined the site to be inadequate
because of the possible radioactive
contamination of our aquifers and
groundwater. Corruption and politics
led to the permitting of the site
anyways, ignoring the entire TCEQ
technical team's recommendation against
issuing the permit. 3 TCEQ employees
quit over the decision.http://texasvox.org/2009/12/07/don%E2%80%99t-let-texas-become-the-nation%E2%80%99s-radioactive-waste-dumping-ground/
Go to this link to take action! Tell
the Compact Commission you do
not want Texas to become the
nation's radioactive waste dumping
ground. http://texasvox.org/2010/04/02/prevent-texas-from-becoming-the-nations-radioactive-waste-dump/
In addition to e-mailed comments:
Austin hearing, also one in Anderson
County.

COAL FIRED PLANTS GULP 1.5 TRILLION GALLONS

Of water, and we're left to drink the

dirty backwash. "We can't escape".

Even as a growing number of coal

burning power plants around the

nation have moved to reduce their

air emissions,many of them are

creating another problem: water 

pollution. Read  more:    http://www.alternet.org/story/146148/coal-fired_plants_gulp_1.5_trillion_gallons_of_water_and_we%27re_left_to_drink_the_dirty_backwash

Meeting Backs Ozone Proposal

CEC Director Charles Morgan meets
Mayor Calvin Tillman


CEC joined politicians, citizens
and other environmental groups
Tuesday, March 16, in Arlington
to lower the ozone standard.

"The old standard is insufficient,"
said Dr. Al Armendariz, regional
administrator for the EPA.
Dr. Armendariz spoke at the
hearing on the EPA's proposal
to lower ozone limits from 75
parts per billion to 60-70 parts
per billion.

High ozone levels have been
linked to reduced lung function,
asthma, and higher mortality
rates. This meeting was spon-
sored by the Sierra Club and
Downwinders At Risk and,
Public Citizen. Citizens
comments due by March, 22.

Vicky Prater of Copps said
TCEQ had not been helpful
in protecting the citizens.
Mayor Calvin Tillman of Dish
Tx. spoke of an independent study,
by Wolf Eagle
which found high levels of
Benzene in their air, after TCEQ
testing had claimed it safe.
Many people came, some more
than a hundred miles to tell of
tragic health issues caused by
air pollution. Read more:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-ozone_17met.ART.State.Edition1.4be51c1.html Also:
Great videos and comments from

Txsharon at Bluedaze.com
 

Commissioner's Court says NO!

   The regular Commissioner's
Court meeting on March 1, 2010,
Voted no to our air monitor. It
had been approved twice. For years
concerned citizens have asked for
an air monitor, due to the many
gas wells, and Big Brown coal
mine.
Industry friendly Commissioner
Luke Ward made a motion to cancel
the air monitor due to expense, and
what we would do with data collected.
Big Brown extension Turlington
set to use 1,014 acres during it's
five year initial permit says Luminant.
Luke Ward's precinct.
The public is getting wise that what
we breathe can cause health problems,
but, here in Freestone they are content
to wait for EPA to regulate TCEQ.
It will happen it's just a matter of time.
Cancer cases in Flower Mound in
children, might be the wake-up call.
Read more...http://www.freestonecountytimes.com/