Page 15 - Mar Apr 2021-REV

HARD TRUTH, Political Contacts

conclusion The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
ing very high levels of contamination.” However, the new Natural Resources Comment Line: 202-456-1111
Hubbard, retired doctor of environment chair is Sen. Bruce Bostelman of District 202-456-1414; Fax 202-456-2993
and health, is gravely concerned about 23—which includes Mead. To say the www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
neonicotinoids, “the most prominent least, Sen. Bostelman does not often Sen. Deb Fischer
pesticide found at the site, [which] are prioritize environmental protection. But 454 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
known to affect the neurologic system he may be moved by his constituents Washington, D.C. 20510
of bees, neurologic and reproductive sys- to conclude a statewide water study is 202-224-6551
tems in deer and probably developmental critical now, beginning perhaps with 202-228-1325 (FAX)
abnormalities in infants. Pipes broke in the waters, above ground and below, 402-391-3411 (Omaha)
February, releasing millions of gallons of impacted by AltEn’s criminal scam. He 402-441-4600 (Lincoln)
manure- and pesticide-laden water into may schedule such a resolution so it can www.fischer.senate.gov
the adjacent stream.” be debated and voted upon.
The Guardian reported, “Some of Sen. Bostelman can benefit one of Sen. Ben Sasse
the levels recorded are just off the charts,” the state’s great economic drivers, even 107 Russell Senate Office Building
said Dan Raichel, an attorney with the through the pandemic—the ethanol in- Washington, DC 20510
Natural Resources Defense Council dustry which doesn’t deserve the black 202-224-4224
402-476-1400 (Lincoln)
(NRDC), which has been working with eye. Mead is an outlier, not the norm. www.sasse.senate.gov
academics and other environmental pro- Nebraska is the #2 ethanol producing
tection groups to monitor the situation state in the U.S. Increasing replacement Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Dist. 1
in Mead. of liquid fossil fuels with biofuels is 1517 Longworth HOB
Clearly there is plenty of blame to critical. Princeton’s Carbon Mitigation Washington, D.C. 20515
go around, all the way back to Reagan Initiative promotes turnkey practices 202-225-4806
and the delusion that deregulation cre- available NOW and recommends in- 402-438-1598 (Lincoln)
ates prosperity. Failure to study, foresee, creasing ethanol use by a factor of ten, or http://fortenberry.house.gov
legislate and prepare to act on clear and even one hundred! Right now Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon
present dangers magnified by climate produces plenty of ethanol to meet state 1024 Longworth HOB
change may fairly be charged against needs and export more. But obsolete Washington, DC 20515
federal and state governments alike. pump infrastructure is a major barrier Phone: (202) 225-4155
Today’s EPA considers such matters best against our state’s market for E-30. https://bacon.house.gov/
left to the states. Currently “the label is Some friends disagree, but I applaud Rep. Adrian Smith, District 3
law.” Seed producers, wholesalers, retail- the wisdom of our state’s Environmental 502 Cannon HOB
ers and growers alike are charged with Trust reaching out to rural Nebraska, Washington, DC 20515
making sure the end disposers of unsold/ funding upgraded pumps to dispense Phone: (202) 225-6435
unused seed have the correct certificates. 30% ethanol blend, preventing carbon Fax: (202) 225-0207
Say what? uptake into the atmosphere and growing https://adriansmith.house.gov/
Some of the blame here must go the rural economy. Capitol Hill 202-224-3121
to District 44 Sen. Dan Hughes, for- As I go to press, NDEE has filed suit State Capitol 402-471-2311
mer chair of the Legislature’s Natural against AtlEn. By contrast the governor State Senator, District #
Resources Committee, who agreed to of Texas blamed renewables for the State Capitol; PO Box 94604
schedule LR. 4 first brought by District 3 collapse of that state’s energy grid. Not Lincoln, NE 68509-4604
Sen. Carol Blood in 2016, but he reneged. unlike the Mead disaster, the greatest part
Sen. Blood first proposed a statewide of blame in Texas is down to lax law, lax Governor Pete Ricketts
water quality study over concern for can- enforcement and deregulation. P.O. Box 94848
cer patients who lived along the state’s Nebraska’s governor understands Lincoln, NE 68509-4848
waterways. Had the Unicameral had a this matter is serious. He may be late to 402-471-2244; Fax 402-471-6031
chance to see the results of such a study the party, but a dear friend pointed out it’s https://governor.nebraska.gov/
earlier, law may well have been in place neither helpful nor sporting to beat on a
to prevent this disaster at Mead. guy who just woke up.
MARCH/APRIL 2021 NE REPORT, P. 15