EPA

Yesterday, The Electoral College voted Donald Trump to be President of the United States this coming January. Judging by the selection of his Cabinet it is his intention to either eliminate or emasculate many of the Federal Agencies that protect us as Citizens. One Agency in particular concerns me—the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

I joined the Agency when it was created in 1970 and spent most of my Professional Career there. I remember how things were when we started. The Nations’ air and water were in deplorable condition. Most cities were plagued by smog. People less than a mile from the huge Hollywood sign in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles could not see it. A river in Ohio literally burned in flames. Locally, the Merrimack and Nashua Rivers were cited as among the most polluted in the country and Boston Harbor---the worst harbor.

After passage of the Clean Air and Water Acts and the regulations that followed we began to see improvements. Today our cities are free of smog and most rivers and estuaries enjoy near natural conditions. Here in New England the Merrimack and Nashua Rivers and Boston harbor have returned to near pristine conditions.

I do not believe that Mr. Trump means to return our country to those old days. However, going too far with de-regulations will do exactly that. We as Citizens must keep a close watch and prevent that from happening