Richard Lee’s Post

https://lnkd.in/ee_7ctqP Our thought-provoking university lecturer Douglas Fraser once told me if it were even possible to put a financial value on the environmental assets nature provides they would effectively be priceless. Yet they are so often wrongly treated as an expendable, infinite resource. Can anyone put a price on the plants and oceans which provide breathable air, the soil which enables us to grow our food and rivers and groundwater aquifers that provide our drinking water? A rhetorical question of course! Under 3% of water on Earth is freshwater. I read future wars will be fought over who controls freshwater supplies. If we do not have an effective environmental regulator (not blaming the staff & root cause aside for a moment) you can bet your bottom dollar there will be some who take unethical advantage of this, or at least knowingly/unknowingly accept pollution risks which would otherwise have to be addressed. What if the police were inhibited or discouraged from stopping crime? Or if there was little public awareness about what constitutes a crime? I realise that may well be part of the problem. Also, the reported decline of the EA having a respected, independent voice to advise the Government on matters impartially is surely a universal concern. If that trend continued to the point where nobody is allowed to critique decisions of those in power is there not a parallel to be drawn to an Orwellian 1984 situation? Probably not on the same dramatic scale, though nobody has a crystal ball foretelling the long-term consequences of such poor short-term decisions for our natural world.

Delighted to speak alongside brilliant panellists at the Westminster Forum Projects conference yesterday on 'Next steps for addressing water pollution in England'. Including: Daniel Walker-Nolan, Mike Smith, Diane Mitchell, Stuart Singleton-White, Sasha Woods, Sandra S., Paul Hickey, Helen Wakeham, David Hull, Andy Salmon, Robin Price, Zoe Pikramenou, Barry Gardiner MP Dame Glenys Stacey shared findings from the Office for Environmental Programs (OEP)'s review of Water Framework Directive implementation - highlighting a 'deeply concerning picture' over River Basin Management Plans, which are way off track. But it's not all doom and gloom:  *Things 'feel different' after the general election - the new government can take a fresh and profound look  *Water quality is high on the political data - one of the SoS's top five priorities *The Water (Special Measures) Bill gives us an opportunity to act * She endorsed the 'review' of all things water, announced in Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP speech in early September. She called for this to be transparent, comprehensive, thorough and harness the expertise available. She urged everyone to recognise the opportunity and support it. With the ensuing speakers and discussions, it felt like the conference marked a shift away from the pollution debate being dominated by sewage. It was good to hear a cross-sector appreciation of the need to coherently address all sources of pollution, collaboratively. In the panel I spoke at, chaired by MP Jess Brown-Fuller, I reinforced this point by highlighting how pollution issues are inter-connected. I called for: 1. The 'review' to be led from the top of government; it must fully independent and cross-sector - not just a Defra review. 2. A system of ambitious catchment management to tackle water issues - outcomes driven, working towards targets at a catchment scale, and with clear accountability for the delivery of these targets (drawing on the work of https://sswan.co.uk/) 

📢 New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is reviewing permits to build a huge pyrolysis incinerator in the town of Moreau, where a private company plans to store, dry, and incinerate sewage sludge from across the region. 🗽🏭 Why is this important? 🤔 A pyrolysis incinerator generates synthetic gases and oils, along with ash, char, and air pollution. This poses a danger to the planet and our health! 🌎🤢 The incinerator, intended to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, would burn 2X the amount of sewage sludge that NY currently generates, forcing the residents of Moreau (population: 15,000) and nearby town, Glen Falls (population: 14,722), to deal with the toxicants and heavy metals that will be released into the air in the process. Today, Just Zero commented on the drafted plan, highlighting all the reasons why building this plant is a HUGE mistake. Want to stay informed? Sign up for Just Zero’s Newsletter via the link below! https://buff.ly/3wr5zAl #SaveThePlanet #environmentalist #climatechange #NewYork #incinerator

With the Environment Agency having just published 2023’s staggering increase in sewage discharges, South West Water appears determined to increase the level of sewage pollution still further in 2024………! As an example, Portreath on Cornwall’s north coast has only had 2 days free from sewage discharges since the 1st November 2023……..almost 5 months of continuous sewage pollution! With last years figures evidencing that just 22% of South West Water discharges were down to “exceptional weather”, it remains the case that the vast majority of its pollution is in contravention of its duties under the Water Industry Act 1991. Where are the Environment Agency and what action are they going to take? #sewagescandal #sickofsewage

🌍 Be the eyes and ears for our environment 🌍 Environmental incidents like oil spills, fish kills, and illegal dumping can have significant impacts on ecosystems and public health. The Environmental Regulator receives hundreds of pollution reports annually, and your reports play a crucial role in addressing these issues. 🔎 What should you report? Incidents that may harm the environment, such as: Hazardous materials entering waterways Sediment-laden runoff from construction sites Diesel spills over 3 metres or near waterways Illegal dumping Significant dust from construction activities Let’s work together to protect our Northern Territory ecosystems! 🌱 #environmentalprotection #pollutioncontrol #sustainability #territoryenvironment Read the full story: https://vist.ly/3mpeei4 📞 How to report an incident Fill out a report form online or call the 24-hour Pollution Hotline. Include details like the date, location, description, and any efforts to reduce pollution. Photos are highly valuable for assessment! ⏳ Timeliness is key Major environmental incidents must be reported within 24 hours, as failing to do so is an offence. Your efforts, combined with our response guided by the PACTT principles (Proportionate, Accountable, Consistent, Targeted, Transparent), ensure a safer and healthier environment for all.

The Deputy First Minister shared a positive outlook on keeping the revenue from UK-led water pollution reforms within Wales. During scrutiny at a Senedd committee, he highlighted the Welsh Government's focus on ensuring that funds from pollution fines remain local. With key elements of devolved power in play, the Senedd's upcoming vote on the bill will be one to watch. Retaining these funds in Wales seems only fair-it allows the Welsh Government to take meaningful control over its own environmental outcomes. #waterpollution #environmentalprotection #wales #government #sustainability

Massachusetts strengthens its environmental protections! New rules will consider the impact of new industrial projects on air pollution in low-income communities and communities of colour. This aims to address historical environmental injustices. #environmentaljustice #Massachusetts #airpollution Link to the full story below: https://bit.ly/3TBDHBt Neeeco increases energy savings by making your homes energy-efficient. 🏠 ✅

Shocking new figures from the UK environmental regulators reveal that untreated sewage was discharged into our rivers and coastlines a staggering 399,864 times in 2022 alone. That equates to a concerning 1,091 times every single day. This stark reality, as outlined in the recent report by Surfers Against Sewage, calls for a focused and collaborative approach to address the pressing issue of sewage pollution. 🌊 The numbers underscore the need for strategic investments in advanced sewage treatment infrastructure and the development of comprehensive policies to mitigate the environmental impact. Wastewater management requires a concerted effort to protect water quality, preserve ecosystems, and uphold public health standards. 🌍💧 Delve into the detailed analysis presented in the report: https://bit.ly/3T097kY #EnvironmentalResponsibility #WorldEngineeringDay

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the implementation of the “Good Neighbor” Federal Plan to address interstate smog, threatening public health. The rule, which limited nitrogen oxide emissions to reduce interstate ozone pollution and improve air quality for communities living near emission sources, has now been put on hold until the litigation is completed. Here are 4 key takeaways from the ruling 👇 1. The Supreme Court is disregarding public health. An immediate consequence is the loss of significant public health benefits. While the rule remains on hold during litigation, the lost public health benefits can never be recovered. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that in 2026, the rule would have prevented: 🚫~1,300 premature deaths  🏥 +2,300 hospital + ER visits  🤧 1.3 million asthma symptoms cases  📚 430,000 school absence days  📉 25,000 lost work days. 2. Emergency stays, once extraordinary, are becoming ordinary. Courts typically presume that government agencies, such as EPA, act lawfully, ordinarily allowing regulations like the Good Neighbor rule to remain in effect while it is being challenged in court. What is the emergency in this case? The court mentions compliance costs and states’ interests in retaining regulatory authority, but these considerations arise with most EPA regulations and are not unusually imminent. In the end, the Supreme Court acted without the benefit of a full briefing, which could have occurred in another court in a shorter amount of time. 3. The Supreme Court appears to be declaring its intention to become a court of first view, rather than review. Regulating air pollution is a highly technical area of policy. The facts of a case should “percolate” in lower courts, so that the Supreme Court can then address a case upon a well-developed record. In the Good Neighbor rule, EPA properly based its decisions on a voluminous scientific and technical record. The courts were meant to extensively review that record but the Supreme Court did not let that process play out and, as a result, reached a flawed decision. 4. The Supreme Court is endeavoring to become a “Super-EPA.” Instead of allowing agencies with relevant technical expertise to address the effects of air pollution, the Supreme Court is reaching past lower courts to stay major environmental rules – a new and dangerous phenomenon that is becoming unfortunately common. More from Shaun G. in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eZEZYpcW