When the Clean Water Act was passed forty years ago, it set regulations for many common chemicals that were dangerous to waterways and public health. Since then, innumerable new chemicals have been created in laboratories and introduced to commercial products.
Considering this, an EarthFix public opinion survey of 1,200 Northwest residents asked which of four statements comes closest to their opinion?
The four statements survey participants were offered to choose from:
A. Before being used commercially, all new chemicals should be rigorously tested by the government to ensure they are safe for the environment and have minimal impact on water quality, even if this increases the cost and the time it takes before the chemicals come to market.
B. The development of new chemicals is important to keeping our manufacturing, technology, and pharmaceutical firms competitive. We should not slow down advancements with unreasonable government regulations. Companies that develop and use new chemicals should be responsible for testing their products to ensure they are safe for the environment and have minimal impact on water quality.
C. Neither
D. Don’t know
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent. It was conducted July 9-14 for EarthFix by Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, an independent and non-partisan public opinion research and consultation firm based in Portland.
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Forest collaboratives formed in the wake of the Pacific Northwest’s “Timber Wars” have become major power players operating largely out of the public eye
Gary "Chris" Twombley was put on administrative leave in December 2023
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