“Economic Efficiency”: DEP Code For The Value of Your Life

How Much is Your Life Worth – And Who Decides That Value?

I have long written about the evils of Governor Christie’s Cost-Benefit Policy in his Executive Order #2 (and to set the record straight, we broke today’s radon story with this July disclosure: RADIOACTIVE WELLS POSE BIGGER RISKS IN NEW JERSEY – Hundreds of Thousands Exposed Daily to Rad Levels Many Times over Safety Limits”)

Examples of that fatally flawed policy are starting to percolate to the surface – just like the hand of the dead body that pops above the surface of the water at the end of the movie “Deliverance”.

According to today’s Daily Record:

The 2009 report estimated it would cost between $480,000 and $1.4 million for water systems to install remediation systems. Statewide, using the 800 picocuries standard, the institute placed the total cost at $78.8 million. Estimating it would save 195 lives, that breaks down to a cost of about $404,000 per life saved.

The report calculated the cost for a more stringent standard of 300 picocuries, the toughest being considered by the EPA, and found that would save 368 lives, but at a cost of $785,000 each, for a total cost to the state of $288.7 million.

Ragonese said that as the DEP considers setting a standard, it will consider how well it would “protect public health and meet other considerations of the Governor, such as consultation with affected parties and economic efficiency.”

DEP will decide, based on “other considerations” and “economic efficiency”” – right.  But don’t say we didn’t warn you.