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U.S. NEWS Monday 24 april 2023
Pollution lawsuit could curb use of aerial fire retardant

By MATTHEW BROWN nia Forestry Association. The
Associated Press judge is allowing the coali-
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A le- tion’s attorney to present
gal dispute in Montana could brief arguments.
drastically curb the govern- As the 2023 fire season gets
ment’s use of aerial fire re- underway, California For-
tardant to combat wildfires estry Association President
after environmentalists raised Matt Dias said the prospect
concerns about waterways of not having fire retardant
that are being polluted with available to a federal agen-
the potentially toxic red slurry cy that plays a key role on
that’s dropped from aircraft. many blazes was “terrifying.”
A coalition that includes Par- “The devastation that could
adise, California — where a occur as a result of the Forest
2018 blaze killed 85 people Service losing that tool could
and destroyed the town — be just horrific,” Dias said.
said a court ruling against the More than 100 million gal-
U.S. Forest Service in the case lons (378 million liters) of fire
could put lives, homes and retardant were used during
forests at risk. the past decade, accord-
An advocacy group that’s ing to the Department of
suing the agency claims of- Agriculture. It’s made up of
ficials are flouting a federal water and other ingredients
clean water law by continu- An aircraft drops fire retardant to slow the spread of the Richard Spring fire, east of Lame Deer, including fertilizers or salts
ing to use retardant without Mont., on Aug. 11, 2021. Associated Press that can be harmful to fish,
taking adequate precau- frogs, crustaceans and other
tions to protect streams and that retardant has been firefighters say fire retardant should be allowed to pollute, aquatic animals. A govern-
rivers. dropped into waterways can be crucial to slowing the business as usual,” said Andy ment study found misapplied
The group, Forest Service more then 200 times over advance of a blaze so fire- Stahl, who leads the Eugene, retardant could adversely
Employees for Environmental the past decade. They said fighters can try to stop it. Oregon-based group behind affect dozens of imperiled
Ethics, requested an injunc- it happens usually by mis- “It buys you time,” said Scott the lawsuit. “Our position is species, including crawfish,
tion blocking officials from take and in less than 1% of Upton, a former region chief that business as usual is ille- spotted owls and fish such
using aerial retardant until the thousands of drops an- and air attack group supervi- gal.” as shiners and suckers.
they get a pollution permit. nually, and that environmen- sor for California’s state fire A ruling from U.S. District Health risks to firefighters or
The dispute comes as wild- tal damage from fires can agency. “We live in a popu- Judge Dana Christensen is other people who come into
fires across North America exceed the pollution from lous state — there are people expected sometime after contact with fire retardant
have grown bigger and more retardant. everywhere. It’s a high prior- the opposing sides present are considered low, accord-
destructive over the past two “The only way to prevent ac- ity for us to be able to use the their arguments during a ing to a 2021 risk assessment
decades because climate cidental discharges of retar- retardant, catch fires when Monday hearing in federal commissioned by the Forest
change, people moving into dant to waters is to prohibit its they’re small.” court in Missoula. Service.
fire-prone areas, and over- use entirely,” government at- Forest Service officials said Christensen denied a request To keep streams from get-
grown forests are creating torneys wrote. “Such a prohi- they are trying to come into to intervene in the case by ting polluted, officials in re-
more catastrophic megafires bition would be tantamount compliance with the law by the coalition that includes cent years have avoided
that are harder to fight. to a complete ban of aerial getting a pollution permit but Paradise, other California drops inside buffer zones
Forest Service officials ac- discharges of retardant.” that could take years. communities and trade within 300 feet (92 meters)
knowledged in court filings Government officials and “The Forest Service says it groups such as the Califor- of waterways.q

Biden expected to tap Julie Rodriguez to run 2024 campaign

By AAMER MADHANI ist, also worked in former chief of staff. She went on
Associated Press President Barack Obama’s to be hired by Biden’s 2020
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- White House. She’s the presidential campaign as
dent Joe Biden is expected granddaughter of labor a deputy campaign man-
to tap Julie Rodriguez, a leader Cesar Chavez and ager and senior adviser for
senior White House adviser, labor activist Helen Fabela Latino outreach.
to manage his reelection Chávez. Biden is expected to for-
campaign, a person famil- She has served as Biden’s mally announce his 2024
iar with deliberations on the director of the White House reelection campaign as
matter said Sunday. Office of Intergovernmen- soon as this week, accord-
The person spoke on condi- tal Affairs since the begin- ing to three people briefed
tion of anonymity because ning of his presidency and on the discussions.
Rodriguez’s appointment added the senior adviser The people, who spoke on
has not been finalized and role last June. the condition of anonym-
Biden has yet to formally Rodriguez also has deep ity to discuss internal delib- White House Intergovernmental Affairs director Julie Chavez
launch his reelection cam- ties to Vice President Ka- erations, said they were not Rodriguez stands outside the White House on June 9, 2021, in
paign. CBS News was first mala Harris. She served on aware that a final decision Washington.
to report that Biden has de- Harris’ Senate staff and on on timing had been made, Associated Press
cided to pick Rodriguez. Harris’ 2020 presidential but that Biden had been the Democrat entered the ed to be in the form of a
Rodriguez, a longtime campaign as national po- eyeing Tuesday, April 25, 2020 race. The upcoming video released to support-
Democratic party activ- litical director and traveling four years to the day since announcement is expect- ers. q