Is Idaho Cleaner? Or Just More Lax?

The Idaho Division of Environmental Quality wasn’t an aggressive environmental watchdog under Democratic Govs. Cecil Andrus and John Evans.

Andrus, in particular, was very friendly toward business, preferring to accommodate industry rather than crack down on pollution problems. As a result, agency officials tended to let things slide. If they did act, it was with caution.

That’s why the dramatic dropoff in enforcement actions by the agency under Republican Gov. Phil Batt is troubling. If the state’s environmental regulators were reluctant to enforce the rules under the previous two administrations, what are they now?

Air quality violations have dropped from 17 to only four from the last two years of Andrus’ administration through the first two of Batt’s; hazardous waste violations, from 40 to only nine. In addition, consent orders - or binding agreements to alleviate pollution - have tumbled from 19 to three for air quality violations and from 39 to six for hazardous waste violations.

Business leaders hail such statistics as proof that the current administration has moved from “command and control to educate and participate.” Moved? Neither Batt nor his predecessors ever were in command-and-control mode.

We do agree with a remark by Brent Olmstead, vice president of the Idaho Association of Industry and Commerce: “Why not work with businesses and prevent them from doing something rather than just punishing them?”

If the cooperative approach fails, however, regulators shouldn’t be afraid to levy fines and penalties to protect Idaho’s air, water and forests.

Rick Johnson, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, contends Idaho businesses are getting away with more today. He makes a good point when he says: “It’s like cops watching people driving down the highway. If you’re not pulling over speeders, more people speed. Things get a little sloppy.”

We hope the sharp decline in enforcement action means government and business have found a way to work together that benefits the environment. Certainly, more businesses are environmentally sound today. However, it’s hard to imagine that voluntary compliance and Batt’s decidedly pro-business policies and political appointments have discouraged pollution more than the halfhearted approach of the past.

If a cop almost never pulls out his ticket book, he loses credibility and invites abuse.

Neither side can offer specific proof that Idaho’s environment is better or worse today. The enforcement statistics and the dark side of human nature simply raise a question.

Has Batt gone too far?

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board