I can only hope that this strategy of yours has been/is being/will be successful - and that you have flushed out into the open some supporters of influence. Jim
This sure hasn't made me any friends. I asked for and got no support for it in NJ EJ and environmental circles. I think I set a good trap.
I see no downside risks, because Trump has already killed EPA EJ and climate programs, so this one permit won't set any national precedent of provide political cover for him.
I can't see how EPA can reject my petition, because I pushed all the Trump hot buttons, e.g "woke" et al.
If EPA accepts my petition and rejects the NJ DEP permit, that would require a new permit application. And that would trigger application of the NJ EJ law. This would force the NJ DEP Commissioner to walk the talk. My sense is that he would NOT kill the permit, which would expose his hypocrisy as well as the weakness of the NJ EJ law. That would trigger public outrage that could lead to amendments to strengthen the law.
If EPA denies the petition and approves the permit, they will get hammered by all sides: business groups would see the threat of EPA allowing States to greatly expand Clean Air Act and mandate renewable energy systems. This is exactly why they sued to block the Obama Clean Power Plan. And EJ and climate groups will hammer them as well. for approving a new fossil plant in an EJ community.
I get the sense that my former environmental colleagues lack the ability to even think along these kind of strategic lines.
It does indeed take a strategic thinking mind such as you clearly posses - a chess man methinks - something almost or indeed Machiavellian - to set such an entrapment - as you say. Best of luck.
I can only hope that this strategy of yours has been/is being/will be successful - and that you have flushed out into the open some supporters of influence. Jim
This sure hasn't made me any friends. I asked for and got no support for it in NJ EJ and environmental circles. I think I set a good trap.
I see no downside risks, because Trump has already killed EPA EJ and climate programs, so this one permit won't set any national precedent of provide political cover for him.
I can't see how EPA can reject my petition, because I pushed all the Trump hot buttons, e.g "woke" et al.
If EPA accepts my petition and rejects the NJ DEP permit, that would require a new permit application. And that would trigger application of the NJ EJ law. This would force the NJ DEP Commissioner to walk the talk. My sense is that he would NOT kill the permit, which would expose his hypocrisy as well as the weakness of the NJ EJ law. That would trigger public outrage that could lead to amendments to strengthen the law.
If EPA denies the petition and approves the permit, they will get hammered by all sides: business groups would see the threat of EPA allowing States to greatly expand Clean Air Act and mandate renewable energy systems. This is exactly why they sued to block the Obama Clean Power Plan. And EJ and climate groups will hammer them as well. for approving a new fossil plant in an EJ community.
I get the sense that my former environmental colleagues lack the ability to even think along these kind of strategic lines.
It does indeed take a strategic thinking mind such as you clearly posses - a chess man methinks - something almost or indeed Machiavellian - to set such an entrapment - as you say. Best of luck.