The Boondocks blog, No. 18 for the week starting March 4, 2007.
Monday
NYPIRG's Suggestion To Ban Burn Barrels By Executive Order
Tuesday
Energy looks at high energy prices and our future.
Enviroman looks at man and the environment.
Hayseeds looks at politics and life in our nation.
Individual looks at myself and how I'm changing
Outblog is all about my outdoor experiences.
Transit looks at the changing ways we get around.
Truck gives you stories and trips in my Ford Ranger.
NYPIRG's Suggestion To Ban Burn Barrels By Executive Order. I happened to be looking through NYPIRG's September 6, 2006 on 50 Actions for Change report for a class assignment and there was one was that particularly peeked my interest:
22. Issue an executive order banning the household burning of garbage.
That's an interesting suggestion—that the governor could has the power to do such a thing unilaterally or get the DEC to promulgate such a rule—without seeking legislative approval.
From the detailed report:
Problem
Furthermore, many rural communities in New York still allow open burning of household garbage in outdoor burn barrels. Open burning of garbage releases dioxins and other deadly chemicals that can harm those who breathe them and contaminate dairy products and food. According to the National Academy of Sciences, open burning of garbage is the single greatest source of dioxin emissions in the United States. Burning garbage in burn barrels or open pitsalso poses a serious fire hazard...Solution
Ban open burning. The governor should direct DEC to ban backyard burning statewide, not just in communities ofover 20,000.
Now as a liberal democrat and environmentalist, I have many friends who happen to work for NYPIRG, and some cases have very high positions in that organization. Many of them have done really good work, both within and outside of NYPIRG. Some of us just have to passionately disagree on the trash burning bill.
You really have to wonder why a bunch of college students (NYPIRG is largely funded by mandatory college fees/kickbacks at SUNY Colleges) should have an interest at what Chazy dairy farmers do in their backyard—or for that matter what this has to do with good government. At least Plattsburgh State doesn't have a NYPIRG chapter.
Let's just hope our governor doesn't get some bright ideas from them. P'Link
Crunch Goes the ATV. Down in Orange County, we got to find out what happens when an ATV gets stuck and abandoned on a metro north train line. Not a very good way to treat your expensive toys, and I would guess if they find the rider he will be in trouble too. P'Link
Copyright ©1999-2008 Andy Arthur.
All mistakes are intentional or otherwise.
Mind where you step in a cow pasture or legal mindfield.