Reverend Jarrett Maupin, South Phoenix activist and elected board member of the Phoenix Union High School District, has petitioned to intervene in the case of the Honeywell SEP.
On August 13th, I broke the story of the Governor hijacking the Honeywell Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) in order to finance her Western Climate Initiative. I've pointed out that diverting the money to fund the Western Climate Initiative violates DEQ's own policies concerning SEPS and diverting the SEP also adds to Environmental Injustice because the violation actually occurred in South Phoenix, but the mitigation money is being spent out of state.
Here are the points that Maupin made in his intervention.
ADEQ does not have the authority to agree to the SEP that is proposed in the consent judgment. The SEP is highly inappropriate and unlawful in many respects, including
(1) The SEP lacks a nexus to the violations at issue.
(2) The SEP does not fall within an authorized category of SEPS,
(3) The SEP potentially results in improper funneling of funds to ADEQ contractors
(4) The SEP does not contain appropriate oversight over how the money will be spent by the Western Governor’s Association.
Example of a good SEP
Meanwhile, the Arizona Republic praised the Salt River Project for a SEP that SRP recently worked out with EPA and the Justice Department.
SRP also agreed to do three other projects that will help the Arizona environment: retrofitting some Valley school buses with pollution controls, installing solar panels at schools and replacing old woodstoves with less-polluting models in the area near the power plant.
Wow, those are local projects that have a nexus with the violations...just like the policy says. I guess if you want to take the politics out of environmental regulation, you might want to work with the federal government instead of the state DEQ.
Say, isn't DEQ up for sunset review next year?
I'm pleased to hear that, Greg. Reverend Jarrett Maupin is good to intervene on behalf of the people affected by the Honeywell violations. I hope the court will take care of the issue.
Posted by: Brian D. | August 24, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I understand he is also supporting Sen. McCain.
Posted by: Ann | August 24, 2008 at 06:28 PM
The South Mountain has been tracking these kinds of violations for years. I have attend some of the hazardous materials meetings around the county and the South Mountain area is always represented. They have reason to be concerned as they have been targeted for years by various industries who thought that the poor folks there wouldn't have any political moxy. Those industries have learned differently. Also the South Mountain area has attracted some folks with some money into some of the higher priced real estate along the foot of the mountains. These people are not about to see their investments tanked by industries who abuse the environment.
Posted by: ron | August 24, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Pardon the slight OT, but I will never forget the televised video of Maupin kneeling down on the sidewalk downtown, in front of Sheriff Arpaio, and with a crowd of really angry people behind him. I think he was begging Arpaio to stop enforcing the immigration laws.
Posted by: Name: | August 24, 2008 at 08:13 PM
The Arpio event thing could be attributed to a youthful error in judgement... to someone 15 years Maupin's senior!
If this guy's ego etc gets tempered with a few years of maturity he will be a major force on the left one day.
His willingness to be critical of one of the Governor's pet projects and stand up for his community also bodes well for him.
Posted by: Simon says: | August 25, 2008 at 01:01 AM
Isn't Maupin a bit presumptuous?
Posted by: Tricksy Dick | August 25, 2008 at 01:32 AM
He is more than a bit presumptuous. You're correct. If he emits the same aura five or ten years from now he will already have become moot. If he ages right and gains the right amount of humility he will be the next Art Hamilton at least.
Posted by: Simon says: | August 25, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Give Jarrett a break. A number of people in
the legislature have fewer ounces of grey
matter.
Posted by: nick | August 25, 2008 at 02:18 AM
It takes some moxie to stand up to the Guv - this guy is doing something about it --- most folks a) don't care; b) if they care, don't do anything about it. There have been meetings about hazardous materials in this county and I have been one of two community pople there - the rest were paid to be there!
Posted by: ron | August 25, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Moxie is the word I was looking for.
BTW, I read that he was president of the young republicans in his earlier high school days and he agrees with the Cosby "we need to take some responsibility for our problems" school of thought. Conservatives should keep fingers crossed that he could change his registration down the road.
Posted by: Simon says: | August 25, 2008 at 12:17 PM