The White House on Saturday was anxious to spread the news that the United States and nearly 200 other countries had adopted the Montreal Protocol, agreeing to phase down production of the HFCs used in tools of environmental terrorism such as air conditioners and refrigerators.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy didn’t wait around for the White House to spill the good news and tweeted a video of delegates applauding themselves for saving the planet.
We did it! With our kids future at stake, the world came together to phasedown HFCs and #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/SvCFxLhDJA
— Gina McCarthy (@GinaEPA) October 15, 2016
History was made today as we joined nearly 200 countries to reduce the use of harmful HFCs & protect our environment. pic.twitter.com/iMp07aGtWo
— U.S. EPA (@EPA) October 15, 2016
It probably wasn’t difficult to get so many countries on board, seeing as none of them is committed to actually doing anything. And speaking of not doing anything, the House Oversight Committee is curious why no one seems to be facing any consequences over the EPA’s spill of 3 million gallons of wastewater into the Animas River last summer.
Justice Department Won’t Prosecute EPA Worker Over Waste Spill in Colorado – WSJ https://t.co/aFdLKoFiMk
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 13, 2016
It’s not as though no one will face consequences; the taxpayer will get to pay the cost of the spill, which is estimated to fall just short of $28 billion.
The inspector general for the Environmental Protection Agency opened an investigation into the EPA’s role in triggering the massive toxic waste spill and found evidence that an employee may have violated the Clean Water Act and given false statements.
However, federal prosecutors declined to prosecute, and now the House Oversight Committee wants to know why the Department of Justice decided not to take up the case while pursuing so many others involving private businesses.
Chairmen Question DOJ on Lack of Prosecution in Animas River Spill via @gopoversight https://t.co/0xde19bCNb
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 12, 2016
In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Rep. Jason Chaffetz and two other members of the House Oversight Committee raised concerns that the move appeared hypocritical and seemed to demonstrate — brace yourselves — “there is one set of rules for private citizens and another for the federal government.”
Surely Lynch wouldn’t want to appear to support a double standard when choosing whom to prosecute and whom to let walk.
https://twitter.com/JammieWF/status/786581749539049472
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