Black from coal dust, that is.
More accurately, it was his job. He's been fired/forced to resign by Wonder Guv Kaysuck for simply doing his duty and trying to enforce the law. Ohio's coal industry keeps asking the EPA for "permits" which would allow them to skirt the law and illegally pollute. Elmaraghy repeatedly turned them down, stating that what they ask for would have "negative impact on streams and wetlands, and would violate state and federal laws."
The coal companies and their buddies the utility companies clearly don't give a shit about small matters like laws and pollution. And being major Kasich campaign contributors, they expect to get their money's worth. So they go running to John Boy and whine about this meddlesome EPA Division Chief who won't let them do what they want.
And in the best/worst tradition of quid pro quo cronyism, the black-hearted Kasich promptly fires the poor guy for doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing.
And Kasich's EPA will now fully engage in the opposite of environmental protection.
Over the years, I worked with George and his staff on numerous occasions. While I found 'some' members of his staff to be unreasonable obstructionists (others were doggone good people to work with), I found George to be a straight shooter, organized, willing to listen and generally good at interacting/working with others. I liked him and feared him at the same time 'cause his agency held the keys to the cars we needed to drive in order to achieve our mandate. Being a sister agency, it might be thought that our projects got off easy. That wasn't the case. We were held to the same standards. Of course, we always said, if we expected the public (industry or others) to do it right, we certainly needed to do it right! So we always tired to hit the bullseye, but sometimes we didn't and the OEPA would challenge us to do better.
ReplyDeleteIt needs to be noted that OEPA Director Scott Nally didn't fired. He kept his feet clean, and evidently wouldn't step in the mess. Obviously, he wasn't willing to stick his own neck in the guillotine. George could say, "Thanks for having my back Scott."
Give Kasich kudos on a couple of items (I know, a stopped clock is right twice a day). He's right on medicaid expansion and oil & gas taxes.
You know who