Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

Matthew Dulin    Geronimo Rodriguez      Cara Sarelli          Lisa Street

Pollution is a crime

Four bills in the Texas legislature could help Houstonians get back to what theyire apparently good at doing: polluting the environment.

House Bill 3184 and Senate Bill 1265 would require the state to review collected evidence and decide on punishments for companies now being regulated by environmental law. Currently, local governments receive that information directly and respond at their discretion.

It should be noted that the state is notorious for not levying criminal charges for environmental violations.

House Bill 2875 would effectively let companies escape criminal prosecution if the waste they dump ends up seeping into an environment, causing contamination or other damage. That is, if environmental damage doesnit occur immediately after dumping, then the dump is OK. If, 20 years later, people are dropping like flies after drinking the water, the company wonit be criminally charged.

Proponents are saying these proposals will help separate intentional criminal acts from industry accidents. Some are arguing that criminal prosecution of violators of environmental law is taking things too far.

In Harris County, which is trying to fight Houstonis reputation as the nationis dirtiest city, 660 suits were filed for criminal charges, pulling in $700,000 in fines. The state attorney, on the other hand, only pursued 13 criminal cases.

Steve Dicker, an officer with the Houston Police Department's environmental investigations unit, told the Houston Chronicle that criminal prosecution is necessary to effect change. Moreover, Dicker said, itis "the same companies, over and over again … that continue to violate," hinting at habitual negligence. Eventually, such activities must have criminal consequences.

"With the threat of jail time, along with the penalty, we are getting their attention," he told the Chronicle.

Too bad these state bills would let more corporations get off with a slap on the wrist.

Houston, and any city in Texas, cannot expect to fight pollution effectively when its law enforcement cannot levy heavy punishments for such heavy crimes. Threatening the quality of life of millions without considering the environmental impact of an action should, and does, represent criminal activity.

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