Comments from climate change deniers Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) performed poorly at a recent town hall in rural Pinedale.
According to WyoFile, the community of Pinedale experienced alarming ozone spikes in the late 2000s, with one measurement surpassing that of Los Angeles. Residents, especially those with preexisting respiratory conditions and asthma, were advised to avoid outdoor exercise on high-ozone days. According to WyoFile, a doctor advised one mother to drive her hypoxic newborn 78 miles away from home.
So when Hageman appeared at a town hall and announced her support for “repealing” a landmark 2009 doctrine that classified greenhouse gases as pollutants and legally required federal agencies to regulate them, attendees booed her down.
“The endangerment finding is absolutely based upon false science,” Hageman said, eliciting a chorus of boos from the July 29 crowd, as well as guffaws and several loud “No!”s.
WyoFile reports. Hageman attempted to continue despite the outburst: “CO2 [carbon dioxide] is not a pollutant.” They cooked the books in terms of validity and science, which served as the foundation.”
But Sublette County residents weren’t having it, according to WyoFile: “The booing continued, along with one person shouting, ‘Lie! Lie!’ as Hageman pressed on.”
John Rutecki, Legislative Manager for the Environmental Defense Fund, told WyoFile that efforts to reduce ozone-inducing pollutants in Pinedale’s Upper Green River Basin were not accidental. “It took years of effort by the Pinedale community and so many others.”
The EPA’s “non-attainment” status, which Hageman opposes, forced Wyoming air quality regulators to impose healthier standards on fossil fuel drillers, and the companies eventually agreed to comply.
Pinedale resident Mary Lynn Worl, who attended Hegeman’s town hall, told WyoFile that her state is unlikely to weaken federal emission rules following recent successes.
“We were never against drilling and development,” Worl told reporters. “We wanted it done correctly. We wanted to do it as safely as possible.
