Right-wing plan for EPA would be disastrous for the environment | The Fresno Bee

The op-ed on Nov. 20 by Dr. Jay H. Lehr regarding his proposed revamp of the Environmental Protection Agency is appalling.

As the description correctly stated, Lehr is science director at the Heartland Institute. The Heartland Institute, an ultra-right-wing think tank, receives millions of dollars from the Koch Brothers, and related right-wing dark money groups. These groups are at the forefront of blowing doubt into valid, universally acccepted, peer-reviewed research on human-induced climate change, and lobby on behalf of the fossil fuel industry.

Mr. Lehr’s idea to turn the EPA’s duties and responsibilities to a new agency made up of representatives from each of the 50 states’ environmental agencies ignores these basics regarding air, and water: Neither of these fluids respect state boundaries. Pollution that occurs upstream affects people downstream.

Americans should be proud of the EPA’s 46-year track record of achievements. In that time, even though the U.S. population has nearly doubled, has an economy twice as large as a 1970s economy, and miles driven since then have nearly doubled, we have reduced the emissions tonnage of volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by nearly half, compared to 1970 levels.

Mr. Lehr’s proposal would be disastrous for our environment.