Burn it all down

Thousands of oil and gas operations, government facilities and other sites in the United States have obtained permission to stop monitoring for hazardous emissions - or otherwise bypass rules intended to protect health and the environment - because of the coronavirus outbreak.

[...]

The report said US President Donald Trump's administration paved the way for the reduced monitoring on March 26 after being pressured by the oil and gas industry, which said lockdowns and physical distancing during the pandemic made it difficult to comply with pollution rules.

  alJazeera

How convenient this pandemic is for some.

A two-month review by AP found that waivers were granted in more than 3,000 cases, representing the overwhelming majority of requests citing the outbreak. Hundreds were approved for oil and gas companies.

[...]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says its clemency does not authorise exceeding pollution limits. Regulators will pursue those who "did not act responsibly under the circumstances", EPA spokesperson James Hewitt said.

[...]

"The harm from this policy is already done," said Cynthia Giles, former EPA assistant administrator under the Obama administration.

EPA said it will end the clemency this month.

The findings run counter to statements in late June by EPA official Susan Bodine, who told legislators the pandemic was not causing "a significant impact on routine compliance, monitoring and reporting" and that industry was not widely seeking relief from monitoring.

Define "widely" and "significant", eh?

EPA enforcement data shows 40 percent fewer tests of smokestacks were conducted in March and April compared with the same period last year, according to the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative, a network of academics and non-profits.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.