DEP: Has Every Unit Finally Been Compromised?

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has been going down hill for many years but I always had a bit of respect for the Water Quality Units throughout the state until DEP biologists finally caved in to political pressure with less than a stellar performance at the so called Shippensburg Big Spring Symposium. It looks like Mrs. McGinty finished the job of destroying any independent thinking and science in the state agency before she left!

I have testified at many environmental hearings held by the DEP.  For the most part these things are a joke.  The permits are already granted prior to the hearing no matter what the DEP says.  We have put a few safeguards in place after complaining on some projects but in reality DEP WORKS FOR INDUSTRY AND FACILITATES THE PERMITS.  THEY TREAT INDUSTRY AS CLIENTS AND THEY TREAT THE PEOPLE IN PENNSYLVANIA LIKE THE ENEMY,  AND ANYONE WHO HAS TESTIFIED OR ATTENDED THESE MEETINGS WILL VOUCH FOR THAT!

Many people, fishermen included get upset when I say such things.  These people however do not work in the arenas that I do and seldom come in contact with the results of these permits.  They view the world in "rose colored" glasses and then complain why their streams are being destroyed.  So I will present how the great state of Pennsylvania ranks in pollution compared to the other states from their own data reporting and independent agencies.

• Pennsylvania is Number 1 in Water Pollution and issues the most NPDES permits per year.  These permits tend to be a joke in many instances.  Just remember Bob Schott's statement that the PFBC didn't really violate their permits (which is a lie) but in any case what does that tell you about a DEP that can issue a permit and keeping renewing it while the one of the world's great spring creeks is getting destroyed.  A great NPDES PERMIT...wasn't it!
• Pennsylvania is home to 3 of the top 10 most polluted waterways in the U.S. The fact that Pennsylvania discharges the 3rd most toxic waste to water and sewer systems, and has the 3rd highest persistent toxic metals as well as the 4th highest levels of carcinogens entering our water ways doesn't seem to bother these "see no evil" fishermen, bureaucrats, so called environmentalists, and the PFBC.
• Pennsylvania is Number 1 for Acid Mine Drainage and the most streams damaged with over 2400 miles contaminated.
• Pennsylvania's Coal Plants are Number 1 in Mercury emmissions and Number 2 in Sulfur Dioxide.  They are also 6th Carbon Dioxide and 9th in Nitrogen Oxide.
• Pennsylvania is #1 for emissions from coal mining, #1 for landfilling lead, #2 for air emissions of lead from smokestacks, #3 for dioxin emissions, #3 for mercury compound smokestack emissions, and is #5 overall for air emissions.
• Pernnsylvania is the largest importer of municpal garbage
• Pennsylvania is in the top 3 for toxic waste dumps on the Superfund List.

If you take all catergories and rankings Pennsylvania ends up number 1 in environmental degradation.  For the most part they are in the top 10 in just about everything. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture or do you.  For some reason this generation of fly fishermen seem to think the state can destory their resources and some how their trout, bass and other fishing waters won't be affected negatively.  All systems are integrated.  Eventually everything matters in terms of where it ends up.  Pennsylvania is the worst state in the nation environmentally and the worst for mining in terms of permits issued. If you think the streams that are left have much of a chance under these conditions and agencies than you must have some great kool-aid!  For a closer look at these problems try going to www.actionpa.org.  You'll find a weath of good information there as well as the citations if you are interested.