To the editor:
My focus has sharpened from three recent events: The Malheur insurrection, the Mosier oil train derailment, and the presidential candidacy of the Tyrant Trump.
First, understanding the formation of rules in the code of federal regulations will be helpful. Federal regulations, and state regulations for that matter, are not generated by some unknown and unnamed bureaucrat.
A proposed regulation’s genesis is in the Federal Register (fully accessible on line) where an agency proposes a regulation detailing the need for such regulation. It also sets up a process where every person may comment either by submitting comments online, submitting comments in writing, or by personally appearing at one of the hearings scheduled in the proposal.
The agency has to fully consider and reply to every comment submitted.
After a fully open deliberative process they publish a record of decision replying to comments and making adjustments to the proposed regulation. The agency must also provide an economic impact of the regulation. The final rule gets published in the Federal Register along with date of implementation.
Regulations made with this process have the effect of law and are reviewable by administrative law judges and the regular judicial system.
The Bundy Bunch either ignorantly or deliberately decided this process was not suitable to them. Only the point of a gun, intimidation, and insurrection could establish order in their view of the west. So far that is not working out so well for them in federal courts.
The oil oligarchs (Kochs et al) have found new opportunity in fracking, pumping new oil, and exporting it. A significant number of catastrophes have occurred in Oklahoma, West Virginia, Ontario, and our own Mosier.
Under the FAST Act, the DOT has a new regulation requiring better coordination, tank car specification 117 including one-half full height head shields, insulated double wall construction, pressure relief valves, bottom outlets, improved braking, classification of materials, at least one engine on each end of the train, and materials to contain spills and fight fires. The ruptured burning tanks in Mosier or probably a lesser industry standard CPC 1232 models. They haven’t worked so well.
The tyrant Trump wants to make America great again by eliminating a fully democratic and effective rule-making process. He believes every bull should have full and unfettered access to any china shop. Further the shop owner should be severely liable to any injury of the bull.
Terry B. Armentrout
The Dalles
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