Heres What Theyre Saying About the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (HQ)
WASHINGTON -
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized
Clean Air Act protections that will slash hundreds of thousands of
tons of smokestack emissions that travel long distances through the
air and threaten the health of hundreds of millions of Americans
living downwind. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will protect
communities that are home to 240 million Americans from smog and
soot pollution, preventing up to 34,000 premature deaths, 15,000
nonfatal heart attacks, 19,000 cases of acute bronchitis, 400,000
cases of aggravated asthma, and 1.8 million sick days a year
beginning in 2014 – achieving up to $280 billion in annual
health benefits.
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware
“Today’s Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) announcement of the cross-state air
pollution rule ensures that all states are good neighbors when it
comes to air pollution. My state of Delaware has made great strides
in the effort to clean up its own air pollution and as we see with
this new rule, those efforts have paid off and we now do not
contribute to other state’s pollution
problems…”
Albert Rizzo, American Lung Association
“Today’s finalization of
the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is a vital component of the
EPA’s effort to protect the health of millions of Americans
who live downwind of power plants that belch out life-threatening
pollution.”
Rick Sullivan, Massachusetts Secretary
of Energy and Environmental Affairs
“Massachusetts congratulates EPA on its issuance of the Cross
State Air Pollution Rule. This rule will reduce emissions of
harmful air pollutants from large power plants in upwind states,
which contribute to unhealthy air in Massachusetts. As a state that
has already taken action to significantly reduce power plant
pollution, Massachusetts is pleased that EPA is leveling the
playing field by requiring power plants in upwind states to follow
suit quickly - starting on January 1 2012. Massachusetts residents
will breathe easier when that occurs.”
Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, The American
Public Health Association
“Too many Americans suffer
from life-threatening ozone and air pollution emitted by
coal-burning power plants,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD,
FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. “Today’s
ruling is an important and long overdue step to protect the health
of Americans and clean up our environment. It’s a huge
win-win. We praise EPA for its continued efforts to help create
stronger, healthier and more productive communities for ourselves
and our families.”
Fred Krupp, Environmental Defense
Fund
“These clean air standards for
power plant pollution will provide some of the greatest human
health protections in our nation’s history,” said EDF
President Fred Krupp. “Millions of Americans live downwind
from this deadly pollution -- from the communities that live in the
shadows of these smokestacks to those afflicted by the pollution
that drifts hundreds of miles downwind. Today’s clean air
protections will help eastern states restore healthy air in
communities hard hit by air pollution, and will help all of us live
longer and healthier lives.”
Gene Karpinski, League of Conservation
Voters
“We applaud the EPA for
providing a long overdue update to these necessary clean air
standards. The benefits of these efforts to curb toxic air
pollution have proven time and again to greatly outweigh the costs,
and we commend the agency for taking this important step forward.
By finalizing this rule, the EPA will help reduce the spread of
harmful pollution across state borders, providing millions of
Americans with cleaner air and water in their own cities and across
the country.”
Mary Anne Hitt, The Sierra
Club
“If you have a child with asthma or a loved one at risk of a
heart attack, you can breathe easier today, because these new
protections will decrease the chances they will end up in the
emergency room.”
Adam Garber, Penn Environment
“Today’s announcement is
a victory for Pennsylvania communities that have lived in the
deadly shadow of power plant pollution for far too long,”
said Adam Garber, Field Director with PennEnvironment. “This
action will reduce the impact of toxic emissions from other states
and give us a chance to breathe easier with cleaner
air.”
More information: http://www.epa.gov/crossstaterule/