Regime Axes EPA Chief

More: Dow Chemical's congressman, nine term Republican David Camp called EPA regulator Mary Gade "unprofessional, vindictive and insulting". Camp is a Dow Chemical millionaire whose financial disclosure statements show he is worth at least $3.6 million of which stock valued at $500,000 to $1 million is invested in Dow. His wife is a Dow Chemical attorney who has a company 401k worth $100,000 to $250,000. Camp received more money in campaign contributions from Dow than any other member of Congress did from a single company. Predictably the League of Conservation Voters gives Camp a ZERO rating on the environment based on his voting record in the 110th Congress. Camp says Dow "wants to do the right thing" but the company has managed to avoid cleanup of contaminated waterways downstream from its plant since 1897. Wackydoodle sez, "Why worry, it all runs downhill."

[posted 5/3/08] One of the first maxims you learn working in Washington, DC is, "the nail sticking out gets hit the hardest." Regional EPA Administrator Mary Gade got whacked by the Regime on Thursday because she dared to oppose Dow Chemical company over its long delayed plans to cleanup dioxin saturated soil around its plant in Midland, Michigan. The contamination extends for fifty miles, and into Lakes Huron and Superior. Dioxin is a deadly toxin that was used in Agent Orange defoliate during the Vietnam War and is known to cause cancer in minute amounts (see graphic). Gade has been placed on administrative leave until her resignation effective June 1st. Gade invoked emergency powers last summer to clean up three severely contaminated areas near the company's Midland headquarters. She ordered more action in November when dioxin levels in a local park exceeded the highest recordings ever found in the US (1.6m ppt). Dow sought to negotiate its cleanup responsibilities, but Gade was not having it, and ended negotiations in January. Dow took the matter over Gade's head to its friends in Washington. The soon former Regional Administrator said her forced resignation was a result of her attempts to get Dow to act on the problem in a comprehensive way. Gade recieved superior performance evaluations while at the agency. She said, "I stand behind what I did and my what my staff did." Imagine that!
[graphic: Chicago Tribune]