Houston is home to one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the nation. The complex is at risk from catastrophic flooding , making it, potentially, one of the largest environmental disasters in US history.
The understand the scope of the complex, and its risks, check out an outstanding presentation, Hell and High Water, by the Texas Tribune and partners, published in 2016. www.texastribune.org/…
Scott Pruitt’s EPA Response
Scott Pruitt has been effectively trying to drown the EPA in the bathtub. Note the mostly blank website for the EPA’s Hurricane Harvey site (above). The only response so far is that they have relaxed regulations on gasoline formulations designed to reduce pollution (below). As they say, never let a disaster go to waste…
Lessons we are about to learn
The total impact of Harvey on human lives, property and the environment is yet to be comprehended. One thing we do know is that recovery will take years of coordinated government action, from an administration unwilling to govern, or even acknowledge the benefits of government.
Perhaps Harvey is what the nation needs to understand the benefits of government. We pay taxes and need a strong government to do the things that we cannot do as individuals.
Purposefully incompetent officials such as Scott Pruitt create a vacuum that attracts corruption and capitalism, just when when Houston will be most in need of competent, coordinated government aid for reconstruction.
We have a long slog ahead of us. Take care Houston.