George Allen's Record as Governor: Part I (Environment)

By: Lowell
Published On: 10/2/2006 10:31:04 AM

It looks like George Allen, having accomplished absolutely nothing the past 6 years in the US Senate, will be reaching back to his days as Governor of Virginia to find something positive to tout.  Fine, let's look at Allen's record as Governor.

Part 1:  Virginia's Environment

In September 2000, Chuck Robb's press secretary Mo Eleithee had this to say in the Richmond Times Dispatch: "George Allen spent his entire term fighting the Clean Air Act, fighting the Clean Water Act and letting polluters pollute without any fear of punishment."

At the time, the AP reported on the Sierra Club's endorsement of Chuck Robb for US Senate:

Robb also noted that Allen's voting record with the League of Conservation Voters is 13 percent.

He accused Allen of trying to strike down the Clean Air Act as unconstitutional, and said that while Allen was governor, Virginia was the only state in the nation whose pollution enforcement program was disapproved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Because the Allen Administration refused to enforce the Clean Water Act against Smithfield Corporation, the federal government stepped in, sued the corporation and won the largest Clean Water Act fine that has ever been levied by a court," Robb said.

In 1997, the EPA sued Smithfield for $12 million for about 5,000 water violations...

And the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) named George Allen to its "Dirty Dozen" list of candidates with poor environmental records. According to the Associated Press (6/21/00), the LCV "denounced Allen's 'pro-polluter policies, weak enforcement of environmental laws and undeclared war' on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during his term as governor."  The LCV's President, Deb Callahan, added that "During Allen's administration, Virginia's air and water initiatives suffered, while special interest groups prospered."

Nice job on the environment, George!

P.S.  Allen was just recenyly named to the dirty dozen AGAIN by the LCV.  Some things never change.

Comments



The definition of failed environmental policy. (Bubby - 10/2/2006 10:58:59 AM)
"The truth is that enforcement action means 'failure' not success." Becky Norton Dunlop, George Allen's Secretary of Natural Resources

No, Ms. Dunlop, this is failure:

( RICHMOND, Va.)—The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has issued a new fish consumption advisory and has modified several existing advisories for various waterways throughout the Commonwealth. The advisories are in response to recent tissue sample tests conducted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Test results indicate that the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury exceed maximum levels allowed for bodies of water where fish are harvested for food.



note the following that you quote (teacherken - 10/2/2006 12:03:43 PM)
Test results indicate that the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury exceed maximum levels allowed for bodies of water where fish are harvested for food.

Contrast that with the picture of Jim teaching his grandchild to fish.

Jim hunts and fishes.  That's why he cares deeply about the environment.  George takes money from corporate polluters.  That's why he doesn't care.

If you want to fish or hunt, your choice is clear.



That would depend on... (Loudoun County Dem - 10/2/2006 1:00:54 PM)
...if you eat your catch or stuff it in mailboxes...


This would be an effective campaign ad for Webb (demnan - 10/2/2006 11:43:02 AM)
I don't think anyone wants dirty air to breathe or dirty water to drink, not your average Virginian anyway.


I would be the first to agree, but.... (Bubby - 10/2/2006 2:55:27 PM)
We have amoungst us, people that think they are entitled to a tax reduction during a time of deficit war spending. Their primary concern is whats-in-it-for-me. We should not expect them to care about our shared environment anymore than they care about our overextended military.

One of the primary sources of mercury in our environment is from coal-fired power plants, yet George Bush and his pseudo-scientists continue to permit mercury discharges. Virginia, an impacted state, witnessed our own AG, Jerry Kilgore fight a 10 state suit against improved power plant discharge standards.  Jerry Kilgore puts Big Coal first, Virginia second.

George Allen has characterized the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve as "frozen tundra in Winter, and mosquito infested swamp in the summertime" - hence worthless. He's more than willing to drill this wilderness for the estimated 6 months worth of oil it contains.

George Allen neglected Virginia's environmental responsibilities so badly, that it took a threat by the U.S.EPA to federalize the Commonwealth's environmental regulatory authority to get George Allen to do his job. He bullied and demoralized the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality.

George Allen's political war chest is stuffed with the contributions of Coal, Oil and Gas companies. They liked what they saw while he was Governor, and his anti-environmental record makes him a sure, and cynical bet that they have a friend in George Allen.



George Allen's Record as Governor: Part I (Chester Fields - 10/2/2006 12:43:59 PM)
This is the same guy who says"vote for me, you know me". Not only did he try to Gut the state DEQ while governor, he also brought all the trash companies to Virginia, makeing the state the second largest trash importer in the US.