Special Alert: Don't let Congress gut environmental laws in the name of hurricane relief

NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists
September 30, 2005
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Special alert:

Don't let Congress gut environmental laws in the name of hurricane relief

Take action now at http://www.nrdcaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2
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Hurricane Katrina victimized an entire region, leaving many Gulf Coast communities completely destroyed. Although rebuilding will take enormous effort and goodwill, opportunistic politicians and corporate cronies are using this national tragedy to try to weaken or waive public health and environmental laws, as well as worker protection and civil rights requirements. Under the guise of hurricane relief, both the Bush administration and several members of Congress have drafted legislative proposals that would actually further endanger residents of this embattled area. A number of these proposals would apply across the country, far beyond the areas affected by the hurricane, and some would apply indefinitely, even after the cleanup or reconstruction is complete.

The proposed waivers and exemptions are unnecessary and dangerous. Health and environmental laws have not impeded hurricane response activities, and already contain specific provisions that allow for flexibility in responding to emergency situations. Waiving or weakening these laws would only serve to victimize again those who have been hit hardest by Katrina: lifting legal protections would allow reconstruction projects to pollute Gulf residents' air and drinking water, authorize spraying of unsafe or banned pesticides and permit hazardous waste to be dumped in nearby landfills or even in affected communities themselves.

Thankfully, some legislators are taking a stand against using the Katrina tragedy to gut our nation's environmental laws. Senator Jeffords (I-VT) and Senator Boxer (D-CA) are asking their colleagues to sign a written commitment to not weaken these legal protections. And several lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced a resolution focused on the need to protect -- not weaken -- public health, environment and environmental justice laws and regulations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

== What to do ==
Send a message urging your senators and representative to commit to keep environmental waivers or exemptions out of hurricane relief and reconstruction bills.

== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your senators and representative directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center athttp://www.nrdcaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2

Phone calls are also very important right now, so if you have a moment on Monday to
call your representative and/or senators, the Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

When you call, tell the person you speak with that you are calling to urge your senators/representative to immediately co-sponsor the "Public Health and Environmental Equity Act" (H.Res. 477/S. Res. 261).

Please also urge your senators' offices to sign the Jeffords-Boxer "Dear Colleague" letter opposing public health and environmental waivers.

Please also forward this message to your friends and co-workers, and urge them to contact their senators and representative as well.

Thank you!