Skift Take
Carnival would rather skip town that meet the EPA standards that would make its dirt-cheap cruises acceptable.
Reaction to the decision by Carnival Cruise Lines to leave the Port of Baltimore next year because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not agreed to its proposal to use scrubbers, instead of cleaner fuel, to meet air quality requirements breaks down like this: Those who hate government regulation blame the EPA; those suspicious of polluters blame Carnival; and those caught in the middle just want to see jobs restored.
Indeed, it's difficult to know who to blame. Has Miami-based Carnival been a good corporate citizen, and is its proposal an honest effort to clean the air? If so, then perhaps the EPA is at fault for not approving its plans faster. But is it possible Carnival is just trying to skirt the rules as long as possible, minimize its cost and pressure politicians like Gov. Martin O'Malley to convince persuade the EPA
