Sen. Carper & EPA Air Chief Gina McCarthy Highlight Life-Saving Clean Air Rules

Media Contacts
Nathan Willcox

Environment America

Washington, D.C.— This morning the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, chaired by Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, is hosting a hearing to highlight two critical rules that would dramatically limit dangerous air pollution and protect public health – EPA’s proposed Power Plant Mercury and Air Toxics Rule and proposed Transport Rule. The hearing will feature testimony from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy. The two rules would save tens of thousands of lives each year once implemented.  

“Americans should not have to worry about their health every time they take a breath,” said Environment America Toxics Advocate Shelley Vinyard. “Thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency’s work to cut dangerous and toxic air pollution like mercury, smog, and soot we’re getting closer to that reality.” 

EPA proposed its Mercury and Air Toxics Rule for power plants in March 2011. The agency estimates this rule will reduce mercury from power plants by 91 percent, and each year will prevent 12,200 trips to the hospital and save as many as 17,000 lives. Exposure to mercury is linked to developmental disorders and can impair a child’s ability to walk, talk, read, write and learn. Mercury exposure is so widespread that one in ten American women has enough mercury in her body to put her child at risk if she were to become pregnant. Power plants are the single largest source of mercury air pollution in the United States. 

In addition, EPA is expected to soon finalize its Transport Rule to cut deadly smog- and soot-forming pollution from power plants in the eastern half of the country. EPA estimates this rule will save between 14,000 and 36,000 lives by 2014. For years, air pollution from power plants has triggered thousands of premature deaths and emergency room visits across the country, as well as millions of missed workdays and missed school days.

“Powering our homes should not poison our kids,” said Vinyard. “After decades of dirty energy lobbyists getting their way, EPA is finally taking steps that are a slam dunk for protecting America’s children. It’s about time dirty coal companies are required to clean up their act.”

Recent polls show that the American public strongly supports EPA moving forward with updated clean air standards. A poll commissioned by the American Lung Association this year found that 79 percent of voters support stricter limits on mercury pollution, and 77 percent of voters support stricter limits on both smog pollution and carbon dioxide. 

“While big polluters and some in Congress are working to block new standards to cut mercury and other dangerous air pollution, we applaud EPA and Senator Carper today for highlighting the need to move forward with strong limits on pollution to protect the health of our nation’s children and families,” concluded Vinyard.