Sarah Palin's Alaskan Wasteland

The New Republic: A Look At Governor Palin's Environmental Record

(The New Republic)  This column was written by Sheila Kaplan and Marilyn Berlin Snell.

There's no reason to doubt Sarah Palin's sincerity when she talks about her commitment to family and--more specifically--special-needs kids. When she introduced her son, who has Down syndrome, to the audience at the Republican convention, the family tableau drew cheers. And she issued a promise. "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message for you," she told the crowd. "For years, you've sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters, and I pledge to you that, if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

Unfortunately, as governor of a state with a birth-defect rate that's twice the national average, and which has the gloomy status as repository of toxic chemicals from around the world, Palin has pursued environmental policies that seem perfectly crafted to swell the ranks of special-needs kids. It's true that Alaska's top leaders have placed industry wishes over environmental protection for years. But, instead of correcting this problem, she's compounded it. Peer into her environmental record, and Palin ends up looking a lot like George W. Bush.

In the past 20 years, research has shown that exposure to some metals and to chemicals such as pesticides, flame retardants, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can cause birth defects and permanent developmental disorders both prenatally and in the first years of childhood. And Alaska is vulnerable to some of the worst environmental pollutants out there. In a state whose wealth depends on the exploitation of its natural resources, the toxic byproducts of mining and energy development, such as arsenic, mercury, and lead, are particular problems. Alaska Natives, such as the Inuit people, eat a diet that is heavy in fish, seals, and whales--animals that are high on the food chain and therefore more likely to be contaminated with high doses of PCBs and mercury. And the state is vulnerable not only to homegrown pollution, but also to industrial pollution: Trace gases and tiny airborne particles are contaminating the polar regions, carried there on atmospheric and oceanic currents, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The mess of pollutants in Alaska has clearly taken its toll. In general, the state has double the national average of birth defects. While the causes are unknown, environmentalists point to the region that includes the North Slope, an area slightly larger than Minnesota, where most of Alaska's oil is produced. The byproducts of oil production can cause serious nervous system disorders, and the North Slope and its environs, home to Alaska Natives and itinerant oil workers, has the highest prevalence of birth defects in the state--11 percent--compared with 6 percent statewide and 3 percent nationwide.

Palin, however, has not addressed these concerns. Her administration irked environmentalists in February 2008, when it opposed legislation that would have given parents at least 48 hours' notice before schools were to be sprayed with pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Currently, parents get 24 hours, which the bill's proponents say is not sufficient for parents who want to arrange to keep kids out of school for a few days after the chemicals are applied. Palin's administration argued that the bill was too restrictive and would force schools to notify parents before cleaning toilets with disinfectant--which, supporters say, is not true. In the same month, members of Palin's administration testified against language in legislation that would have banned polybrominated diphenyl ethers--a flame retardant that, studies show, harms the developing brain.

Then, in the summer of 2007, Palin allowed oil companies to move forward with a toxic-dumping plan in Alaska's Cook Inlet, the only coastal fishery in the nation where toxic dumping is permitted. The Bush administration initially OK'd the companies' request to increase toxic releases, but the permits could not be issued without Alaska's certification that the discharges met the state's water-quality standards, says Bob Shavelson, executive director of Cook Inletkeeper, an organization founded to protect the area's watershed. Palin complied. "Palin's Department of Environmental Conservation issued that certification [based on] the long-discounted notion that 'dilution is the solution to pollution'--turning the federal Clean Water Act on its head and actually increasing toxic pollution," Shavelson says.

Palin next took on the Clean Water Initiative, also known as Proposition 4, which appeared on the Alaska ballot on August 26. The measure would have limited the runoff of toxic metals--known to cause developmental and birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--from all mining operations, but it was aimed at stopping the proposed Pebble Mine, a huge mining proposal that was controversial for its potential impact on Bristol Bay, the world's largest commercial wild salmon fishery (for which Palin's oldest daughter was named). The project had been in the works for years, and, when she ran for governor in 2006, Palin told the Alaska Journal of Commerce that, if the mine was green-lighted, "there will be remediation from now to eternity." Once in office, though, environmental concerns took a backseat. In a TV interview six days before the vote, Palin said, "Let me take my governor's hat off for just a minute, and tell you personally, Prop 4--I vote no on that." Alaska's mining industry parlayed Palin's face and words into an advertising blitz--and came from behind to defeat it.

Palin's latest anti-environmental effort also came in August, when she attempted to block California's plan to curb its air pollution. The Golden State is trying to reduce its toxic emissions with a port fee that would pay for pollution-reduction projects around the state. Arguing that it would hurt Alaska's economy, Palin asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto the proposed legislation.

Finally, Palin was pushed by environmental activists and Alaska Natives to pressure the military in its cleanup of one of the most contaminated sites in Alaska--but the state didn't act. This was on the old Northeast Cape Air Force base on remote St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea--one of the state's closest spots to Russia. When the military closed its operations in the 1970s, it left thousands of barrels of toxic waste, containing solvents, fuels, heavy metals, pesticides, and PCBs, a group of toxic organic chemicals that have persisted in the environment. For the past few years, the Army Corps of Engineers has been slowly cleaning up parts of the site and claims it will leave it safe. (One federally funded study still in progress by the state's premier watchdog on chemical pollutants, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT), tested the local water and got a reading that was more than one thousand times the level that the EPA considers safe. "If the Corps of Engineers want to fill up their canteens in there, they are welcome to it," says Kathrine Springman, the toxicologist who did that study. "Actually, I wouldn't want them to drink it ... anymore than I would ask them to drink Drano.")

But critics say the Army is taking too long, and that its plan will leave too many untreated chemicals, PCBs in particular, at the site. According to Pamela Miller, ACAT's executive director, Palin should have used her powers as governor to forge a better cleanup plan. "Certainly this was also a pattern in the Murkowski administration, but, under Palin, it's gotten worse," she said. "Her administration has done nothing to work with the military to avoid possible contamination." Scientists have also opposed the Army's plan, saying it will leave the area dangerous.

Supporters note that Palin did boost school spending for children with the most severe disabilities, but, in general, the Alaskan government under Palin has done nothing to protect those children and future generations from the toxic stew that the state has become. "She doesn't have a good understanding of the science," says Ruth Etzel, who until recently was research director at the Alaska Native Medical Program in Anchorage. "What she tends to do is talk about personal responsibility as the key to good health."

Andrea Doll, a Democratic state representative from Juneau, says she tried to get Palin interested in her bill on flame retardants early on: "I told her about the bill. She totally was not interested in any way, shape, or form. It was that look on her face--that 'don't even go there' look.

[sbelknap01]

At least the war on the environment is going well.

[idnnsg]

Pollute the environment for profit...
Increase in birth defects...
Palin''s own offspring defective...
Karma!

[achangenow]

I also read somewhere that Palin did indeed cut funding for special needs children. This was before her sp. needs child was born. This lady simply doesn''t have the knowledge, integrity or anything else to be a heartbeat away from the presidency!!

[usavnclub]

ALL AMERICANS CAME FROM ARAB MIDLE EAST , INDONESIA , SOMALIA , KENYA...VOTE HUSSEIN OBAMA . HE''LL BE OUR PRESIDENT .

[usavnclub]

ALL AMERICANS CAME FROM ARAB MIDLE EAST , INDONESIA , SOMALIA , KENYA...VOTE HUSSEIN OBAMA . HE''LL BE OUR PRESIDENT .

[usavnclub]

HUSSEIN OBAMA PROMISED TO ALL OF US : FREE HEALTH CARE,
95% NO TAX , CO-PAY FOR COLLEGE...AND MANY MORE...THAT''S VERY GOOD FOR US , THAT''S NOT EMPTY PROMISES. VOTE HIM.

[standlee5]

The Democrat''s environmentalism; snarl everything in red tape so nothing can happen then declare the state a sanctuary for illegal aliens and allow them to squat on federal lands and national parks and turn them into a poluted chemical soup to grow weed and make meth. Good plan.

[caldwellptr]

Palin''s latest anti-environmental effort also came in August, when she attempted to block California''s plan to curb its air pollution. The Golden State is trying to reduce its toxic emissions with a port fee that would pay for pollution-reduction projects around the state. Arguing that it would hurt Alaska''s economy, Palin asked California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto the proposed legislation.

So much for your State''s Rights - California.

[sheba082]

Paylin can start cleaning up the environment by shutting her mouth and polluting the airways with her insult-laden, hate mongering speeches. I feel soory for her that she has let the Repubilcan party use her like it has. Throwing bricks about trust, experience, associations and honesty. Now all of these issues require a response from her. Stay home and take care of your children and your child''s child.

[barbaraf4]

I am not entirely sure Palin is an advocate of special needs children. I have seen her hold her young son only twice. Both times she acted like he was burning her fingers. Both times she quickly handed him off to her older daughter.

[sickofpalin]

palin is fast becoming so toxic, even mccain may have to stay away from her

[toby2958]

Typical of many Christians, Palin believes we are living in the very last days. Why be bothered with environmental concerns when the end of the world is just around the corner? There is absolutely no concern for the generations to come a thousand or ten-thousand years from now.

Posted by Jimbo554 at 06:00 PM

Yep, she''s scary beyond all belief.

[rk131-2009]

An ideal concept: utilizing secondary and tertiary health care, which costs consumers and taxpayers millions of dollars, rather than employing primary preventive measures. In other words, we will take care of the babies with birth defects after they are born instead of preventing babies from being born with birth defects. Not to mention the devastating effects that all of pollution has on the environment and wildlife. It doesn''t matter to her what is hurt or who has to pay for the damage that is done. Only the ignorant and narcissistic will vote for someone that uses such poor judgment, cares so little for others and the environment, and who obviously lacks the intelligence to use abstract thought, which is necessary to understand that abusing the environment in this manner will harm those children you claim to care so much about.

[rk131-2009]

While it is admirable that Palin has made herself the champion of special-needs children, she has done zilch to prevent children from acquiring birth defects by neglecting to clean up Alaska''s pollution. I mean we COULD clean up the environment and the PCBs that leach into the drinking water causing the Alaskan rate of birth defects to be double the national average. Conversely, we could let oil companies pollute (as she has done), and we''ll just spend enormous amounts of money caring for children after they are born. I''m sure those who carry an ounce of intellect realize that is the more ETHICALLY, MORALLY, AND ECCONOMICALLY rational thing to do, NOT! WHO WANTS HER AS VP?!!!

[G H M]

geronimo888 Its appaent that you do not read what *Palin said and has done as govenor
The state of Alaska under Palin''s guidance sued Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne in an attempt to reverse his decision to list polar bears as a threatened species. Palin said that scientists'' predictions that global warming will eliminate the ice where the bears live in summer were unreliable.
*Palin created a commission to plan for how the state will try to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and plan to adapt to warming, but she hasn''t set any emission reduction goals for Alaska.
*Palin publicly said she would vote no on a state initiative that said no large metal mines would be permitted to pollute streams where salmon spawn. The initiative was aimed at the Pebble mine near Bristol Bay, a major fishery.
*Palin also said the governor supports hunting wolves and bears from the air to reduce predation on moose and differs with environmentalists on a number of wildlife issues.
This is oly the tip of the Iceburg
Read what they did and not the *** she and McLiar are saying

[biggcheese1]

Hey,
When John and I get to Washington, we''re gonna do so many Mavericky things you''re gonna think James Garner is President.
Sarah

[cfin5]

THIS IS A LIE! Sarah Palin is not responsible for the Sockeye Salmon that pick up the PCB''s in the northern pacific ocean, then return to Alaska''s lakes, and then die after spawning. This causes the contamination count to increase year after year. So just because she recently became Alaska''s Governor doesn''t mean she''s the one to blame. Typical liberal idiots with their "The last one with the bag gets the blame" media game. Not even a nice try NATIONAL REVIEW, Ms. Kaplan and Ms. Snell!

[jimbo554]

Typical of many Christians, Palin believes we are living in the very last days. Why be bothered with environmental concerns when the end of the world is just around the corner? There is absolutely no concern for the generations to come a thousand or ten-thousand years from now.

[lovesamerica]

Thank goodness there are environmentalists! Otherwise there would be nobody watching out for the future of our planet. Greenpeace and the like are people that truelly believe in protecting wildlife and sea,and land. They may get carried away sometimes,but that is called passion. Sara Palin is a dolt, she is of the me generation. As long as I have what I need to heck with everyone else. She is no smarter that I. Hopefully she loses and has given up her Alaska job as well. As for Obama..he is a snakeoil salesman and everyone should beware...I am writing in snoopy for president. NO Palin/NO OBAMA...lets just skip the whole presidental thing this year

[pjc27]

Palin also CUT sp. ed. funding in Alaska by more than 3 billion dollars. I''d say that doesn''t show much support for the ''special'' kids, does it?