Instead of hit lists and regulatory sunsets that would weaken or eliminate the protections we need, why isn’t our government doing its part to address the public’s unmet needs? Latest case in point: farm-raised fish. Two articles appearing the same day raise concerns about the potential harms of farm-raised salmon. One article stresses the ecological harms and calls for assessments of those risks:

Just how much did EPA downplay the benefits of controlling mercury? The Wall Street Journal (subscription only) said today that internal EPA analysis found that cutting mercury pollution could produce benefits of more than $2 billion for the Southeast alone. This number stands in stark contrast to the number EPA projected publicly: $50 million in benefits for the entire nation. From WSJ: The report on Southeast benefits, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, looked at reducing mercury concentrations in marine fish and shellfish.

OIRA met with representatives from the American Water Works Association on April 14 regarding three safe drinking-water rules: the Groundwater Rule, the Long-Term Surface Treatment Rule, Phase 2 and the Disinfection Byproducts Rule Stage 2. All three rules were listed in EPA's 2004 Regulatory Plan as high priorities for the agency. According to the agency:

Listeria — the deadly foodborne pathogen with the second highest hospitalization rate and single highest fatality rate of all foodborne pathogens — is breaking out all over: FDA has ordered a nationwide recall of Sea Specialties brand smoked salmon, while a Michigan sausage maker, a Florida maker of chicken meat wraps, and a California producer of teriyaki chicken products all announced voluntary recalls of their products this week, because of potential Listeria contamination.