By design ADEM has been inadequately funded by the Legislature, mismanaged, and operated largely without resources or mandate. Still, there are many hard-working folks at ADEM who want to do the right thing.
So it was good to hear last week that ADEM had cited Honda for emissions violations last spring at the company’s automobile plant in Lincoln, and that Honda has admitted its violations of permit and agreed to pay the $50,000 fine. The company in fact seems to have acted honorably and responsibly.
The incident, however, points to a more serious problem. ADEM is so poorly funded that it often has to depend on companies to police themselves in regard to environmental standards.
Many other businesses might not have been so forthcoming as Honda was in this case.
Hats off to ADEM for showing a bit of muscle; and kudos to Honda for being a sound corporate citizen.