To the editor 鈥 A few years ago, you consistently published the false accusations of a few anti-dairy activists. When farm leaders finally responded to the false accusations, your board wisely said you would not publish any dairy information as you couldn鈥檛 fact-check the claims. Your editorial on dairies shows another failure to fact-check.
The EPA is 鈥渁political鈥? Then why are you afraid of the new administration 鈥渘eutering鈥 it? This exposes a bias and explains why you are ignoring key facts about dairy farms.
The EPA has used false accusations to pursue a vendetta against four dairies, causing the loss of two excellent farms. The nitrate in groundwater in this area is consistent with nitrate in legacy farming areas including much of eastern Washington. The EPA鈥檚 own report shows the nitrate was there before the dairies arrived.
Their deeply flawed study was called 鈥渇raudulent鈥 by one of the top federal officials from the NRCS. Despite this, they continue to attack dairies that are exceeding the strict standards of state dairy regulations. We have provided, again, information that will show how wrong the EPA has been.
If you don鈥檛 have the time or interest to fact-check, then stick to your earlier policy.
DAN DE GROOT
Sunnyside
