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Anybody work with a nonprofit that wants to look at environmental impacts of riot control chemicals in waterways?
Because the sheer volume of tear gas deployed in Portland is on a scale that could be characterized as illegal hazmat dumping.
Because the sheer volume of tear gas deployed in Portland is on a scale that could be characterized as illegal hazmat dumping.
To wit: from a chemical fact sheet on alpha-chloracetophenone (CN), a widely-used tear gas agent.
https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0048.pdf
https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0048.pdf
If @SierraClub wants to make good on that whole "leaving Muir's racist legacy behind" thing, kneecapping law enforcement's ability to attack BLM with hazardous materials could be a really good way to do that.
just sayin
just sayin
Portland's right on the Columbia River. There's a significant but struggling salmon run there.
Fish & the invertebrates they eat are even more vulnerable to most compounds used as pesticides, dyes, weapons, etc than people are.
Fish & the invertebrates they eat are even more vulnerable to most compounds used as pesticides, dyes, weapons, etc than people are.
The Columbia River's also the #1 farm water source in that valley.
There are LOTS of farms downstream from Portland, & now their irrigation water's got riot control runoff. Health & farm finance impacts are total unknowns. Foodies & agvocates, this is relevant to your interests.
There are LOTS of farms downstream from Portland, & now their irrigation water's got riot control runoff. Health & farm finance impacts are total unknowns. Foodies & agvocates, this is relevant to your interests.
Local racial justice orgs like Don't Shoot Portland have started doing the legwork to collect & house info on environmental impacts.
https://www.dontshootpdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DSPFinal-RCAreport4SocialChange-AM.AR_.ZW_.DS-.pdf
https://www.dontshootpdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DSPFinal-RCAreport4SocialChange-AM.AR_.ZW_.DS-.pdf
Colleagues in Oregon tell me Oregon DEQ is also on it, collecting data & doing what they can to find ways to pump the brakes.
That said, state DEQs can be hampered by a lot of loopholes (at least in my NC experience lolsob).
Civil lawsuits aren't.
That said, state DEQs can be hampered by a lot of loopholes (at least in my NC experience lolsob).
Civil lawsuits aren't.
Law enforcement against hazmat dumping can be so underfunded that most of the actual law enforcement is done by lawsuits.
This is where big, well-funded, established environmental orgs can make themselves really useful.
This is where big, well-funded, established environmental orgs can make themselves really useful.
