Environmental decisions made by non-scientists will lead to ‘catastrophic’ results | Opinion
‘Catastrophic decision’
In 1972, the Clean Water Act was designed to protect waters and wetlands from being a dumping ground for pollutants and serve to protect the integrity of our waters that we need to survive, including protections for fish, wildlife and plants.
I have been in the wetlands protection profession for more than three decades, and I have no words to describe the catastrophic decision that has been made by non-scientific court leaders.
Evidently, in a nutshell, the basis for this reversal decision resulted from a U.S. Supreme Court member’s concern that landowners don’t fully understand the definition of surface waters and the impact to the environment.
When did it get to the level where non-experts/ non-scientists are in a position to determine the fate of human survival?
Based on this monumental irresponsible decision, the consequences of wetlands and intermittent waterways – which are ecologically connected to perennial rivers and streams – are no longer relevant and now will be unprotected and unregulated from development and, undoubtedly, will only result in irreversible environmental degradation.
Let’s hope that the Supreme Court will not weigh in on the science and relevance of cardiac and cancer decisions that doctors make, too.
Daniel Shinder, HHI
Whose governor?
I am appalled at Gov. McMaster’s horrifying statement about hunting Democrats at the South Carolina GOP convention.
I am a Democrat and a citizen of South Carolina and I expect my governor to respect and represent me.
He is a disgrace to the office of governor and I will do everything I can to see that he never holds office again.
Alice Schulte, HHI
Words are no joke
Governor McMaster said recently, “I look forward to the day that Democrats are so rare, we have to hunt them with dogs.” Do you know who else gets hunted down like dogs? People about to be lynched.
When the leader in our state — a man elected to serve ALL of his constituents — thinks this is okay, we are in deep trouble. His office claims this was a joke, but I fear it reveals something far more insidious.
These words are reminiscent of a plantation owner’s — when enslaved workers dared to rebel. They reek of supremacy, of dehumanizing those with differing values. They are primitive and dangerous. And they came from our governor.
We no longer live in the 1800s, Gov. McMaster. Your statement gave us a glimpse into your heart, and it worries me.
Carla Damron, Columbia
Protect St. Helena
Another vote is coming up on protecting the Gullah people and culture of St. Helena Island or allowing developers to build resorts, increase land values and taxes, and uproot our neighbors from property owned by their families for generations.
There’s a sign after crossing the bridge to St. Helena Island that proudly says, “Seat of the Gullah culture.” The county seal has the phrasing “Preserving heritage.”
Now my point: What you say with your vote about protecting the Gullah culture will say a lot about your culture.
Jerry Floyd, St. Helena Island
Improve law
I enjoyed Brian Tolley’s recent article on changing a law in our state.
It has been said that our legislators will not take up the discussion of a revised law on annual vehicle inspections.
Every day we see or read in the news a story concerning a vehicle wreck that injured or killed people. Everyday my wife and I see vehicles that have no business being on South Carolina roads. Lights that are not working on vehicles, bald tires, no front-end bumpers.
Can an investigative report on the lack of a state law dealing with vehicle inspections help in changing the attitudes of the public and the legislators? Certainly, the previous law was flawed. Those flaws could be addressed in writing a new law that would have a chance of passing.
Ed Cerny, Elgin
