EPA Launches Environmental Fugitive Site
The Environmental Protection Agency launched an environmental fugitive website this week that lists the top criminals the EPA is tracking down. All have fled their local jurisdictions or even left America. This is the EPA’s version of the FBI’s most wanted list, but just involving crimes related to harming the environment. Some of the crimes that these horrible fugitives committed include:
- Illegal Smuggling of Ozone harming chemicals.
- Dumping dangerous chemicals and pollutants.
- Discharging oil into the ocean.
Some of these crimes are horrible acts against our environment. The list includes 23 of the top offenders against our environment within the U.S. As you can see, not only are the crimes listed acts that could harm the environment, but are extremely dangerous for us. They are dumping chemicals into local bodies of waters that could filter into our drinking water. All cases are bad, but Raul Chavez-Beltran is one of the worst offenders:
Raul Chavez-Beltran ran an environmental cleanup company in El Paso, Texas, that is accused of transporting hazardous waste from factories along the Mexican border and improperly disposing and storing it in the U.S. In one case, he allegedly stockpiled mercury-laced soil from an environmental spill in a warehouse.
Why? I just don’t get the decisions these people make as well as the horrible companies these fugitives work for that usually are just as guilty if not more. To make a few quick bucks and get away from actually spending money on producing items cleanly, they put out fragile environment in more jeopardy than it already is. The biggest problem with the EPA is that they usually only handle larger cases and are extremely under funded. They are only a staff of 189 investigators for the entire nation. It seems like more money needs to be focused on these critical offenders and making sure that they, along with any company associated with them, are prosecuted to the fullest of the law. If the government starts catching and prosecuting these individuals more, it could also prevent future environmental crimes.
Comments
This is truly one of society’s most tragic realities, that crimes against nature are often treated as secondary legal issues. When our soil or water supply is violated, the consequences can be grave and long lasting – much more harmful than stealing money.
Wow. Seems similar to the sex offender lists that many local governments maintain.
Good idea, but I hope they have some safeguards in place to make sure that anyone on the list deserves to be on it.