This line from the attorney, Bodine, contains a grotesque oversimplification. It's the kind of junky statement that I expect from such a meeting and the hand-picked presenters it has:
 
"are just a few examples of issues driven by 'computer modeling and inaccurate assumptions.' "
 
The Chesapeake pollution issues are NOT driven by computer modeling, but by direct measurement of pollutants and absence of normal lifeforms. Some of the Iowa rules (antidegradation is mentioned) are based on citizen and professional testing of water quality, not least of which occurs at major municipal drinking water facilities.
 
Modeling is made necessary in many cases by absence of better data. I work with the DNR Air Quality Bureau, and they have a rank order list of preferred forms of data for issuing air permits to facilities. Stack testing, followed by modeling, is second, and it is driven by knowledge of industrial through-put and stack measurements of pollutants. Pure modeling is well down the list. The speaker distorts the situation in Iowa, if not in other states, and misrepresents the guidance from EPA on how to establish levels of pollution in air and water. This is what counts as "sound science" - highly biased misrepresentations of the realities of what regulatory agencies actually do, often in cooperation with the regulated agencies, various organizations, and citizen volunteers.
 
If the evidence of agricultural contributions to air pollution and greenhouse gases wasn't already clear enough five to ten years ago, the research that has been done in the last year or two puts the icing on the cake, that agricultural air and water (including, importantly, so-called nonpoint sources) emissions of pollution and agricultural releases of methane and other greenhouse gases are significant. While many farm organizations prefer voluntary adoption of control techniques, rather than legislated or regulated approaches, the evidence also is clear that voluntary programs to reduce air toxics (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide) and nutrients in surface waterways ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
 
Most environmental lawyers do go where the money is, I think, as Wally Taylor noted. I've been in the room trying to hammer out policy recommendations with corporate lawyers, and they do their jobs very well: obstruct, hinder, stall, make sideways accusations and implications, etc. It's too bad that corporations aren't more interested in accuracy and truth. But then American culture, economics, and politics are based on self-interest, not ethical responsibilities. Mission statements are often subterfuges, pretty language and little more. A musician/poet once describe such stuff as "antimatter language designed to conceal."
 
Lee Searles
Air Quality Program
Iowa Environmental Council
Des Moines

________________________________

From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements on behalf of Cindy Hildebrand
Sent: Fri 12/3/2010 10:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: I always thought an "environmental lawyer" worked for the environment...


...but after reading the last paragraph in the article below, I see I was mistaken.
 
Cindy
 
http://www.ifbf.org/article.aspx?articleID=21494
 

Cindy Hildebrand
[log in to unmask]
Ames, IA  50010

"Flood control dams have no relation to the cause of floods. Check dams and terraces do not touch the cause of erosion...The practices we now call conservation are, to a large extent, local alleviations of biotic pain. They are necessary, but they must not be confused with cures." (Aldo Leopold)
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