"The stated mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is “to protect human health and the environment.”

Unfortunately, it’s failing miserably as its mission relates to the tiny Moapa Band of Paiutes. It’s way past time for the agency to wake up and get down to business.

The EPA last week conducted two hearings in northeast Clark County, one at the Moapa River Indian Reservation and the other at the Moapa Empowerment High School, to collect public comments on a number of issues related to the Reid Gardner Power Producing Plant in Moapa some 35 miles south of Mesquite.

The 50-year-old power plant produces electricity for Las Vegas and points south by burning mountains of coal hauled in by diesel locomotives pulling miles of hopper cars loaded to the top with tons of rock. It employees more than 100 people."

Get the Story:
Editorial: EPA should protect Paiutes from plant (The Desert Valley Times 5/8)

Related Stories:
Moapa Band gets EPA hearing on power plant by reservation (5/3)
Moapa Band starts 50-mile walk to protest power plant (4/20)
Blog: Moapa Band battles pollution at coal-fired power plant (02/15)
William Anderson: Moapa Band deals with power plant pollution (12/05)
Moapa Band sues to stop expansion of landfill at power plant (10/11)