Design-Based Safety

Hijacking Shakedown

Abstract

Are challenging new private-sector projects on environmental hazards becoming blood sports? Have environmental safety issues become a pervasive socially acceptable reason to confront and badger our federal, state and local authorizing agencies to delay, block or reject the development of huge new projects? Are public hearings on new pipelines, energy development and mining just tools to remove the welcome mat to private-sector industrial development? These three questions have led to my strong suspicion that our empire-building enterprises are being hijacked by a shakedown. This abusive politicizing of environmental and safety concerns appears to be highway robbery of our economy, reducing our middle class and contributing to growing poverty because there is a lack of well-paying employment.