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WPR Interview: Ex-EPA Employee Says Agency Turns Blind Eye Towards Chemicals And Pesticides
Just heard an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio with a scientist named E.G. Vallianatos who, after working at the EPA for 25 years and being completely frustrated by the industry-appeasing culture, decided to write a "tell-all" about it. Thought it was worth sharing:
Ex-EPA Employee Says Agency Turns Blind Eye Towards Chemicals And Pesticides
A former employee of the Environmental Protection Agency says the organization is protecting polluters and failing Americans, and as a result, we're poisoning our lands and waters with more chemicals than ever.
Listen Here
A former employee of the Environmental Protection Agency says the organization is protecting polluters and failing Americans, and as a result, we're poisoning our lands and waters with more chemicals than ever.
Listen Here
The book itself, released just yesterday, sounds interesting:
Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA
And here is an AP release on it (haven't been able to find many other articles quite yet):
'Poison Spring' Details Dirty EPA History
April 7, 2014 (AP)
By JENNIFER KAY Associated Press
E.G. Vallianatos' complaints about the heavy influence that large corporations wield over the U.S. government and environmental policy won't be news to anyone who follows the debates over genetically modified crops or the ingredients in popular cosmetics. What is surprising and depressing in "Poison Spring," however, is when that influence began, especially over the regulation of pesticides.
According to Vallianatos, even at the dawn of the Environmental Protection Agency, when Republicans and Democrats alike claimed to be green champions, corporations were working within the agency to undermine public health and safety and protect themselves, not the planet.
Vallianatos worked at the EPA for 25 years, starting in 1979. With journalist McKay Jenkins, he chronicles his frustrations and that of some of his colleagues over thwarted attempts to regulate and inform the public about pesticides and other chemicals used on farms and in homes.
Vallianatos' outrage sometimes gets bogged down in scientific jargon, but he makes a solid, damning case against putting political appointees in charge of a regulatory agency, as well as corporate claims about product safety. "Poison Spring" is Vallianatos' call to arms, urging American consumers to hold their government accountable for policies that protect and reward polluters.
April 7, 2014 (AP)
By JENNIFER KAY Associated Press
E.G. Vallianatos' complaints about the heavy influence that large corporations wield over the U.S. government and environmental policy won't be news to anyone who follows the debates over genetically modified crops or the ingredients in popular cosmetics. What is surprising and depressing in "Poison Spring," however, is when that influence began, especially over the regulation of pesticides.
According to Vallianatos, even at the dawn of the Environmental Protection Agency, when Republicans and Democrats alike claimed to be green champions, corporations were working within the agency to undermine public health and safety and protect themselves, not the planet.
Vallianatos worked at the EPA for 25 years, starting in 1979. With journalist McKay Jenkins, he chronicles his frustrations and that of some of his colleagues over thwarted attempts to regulate and inform the public about pesticides and other chemicals used on farms and in homes.
Vallianatos' outrage sometimes gets bogged down in scientific jargon, but he makes a solid, damning case against putting political appointees in charge of a regulatory agency, as well as corporate claims about product safety. "Poison Spring" is Vallianatos' call to arms, urging American consumers to hold their government accountable for policies that protect and reward polluters.
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