EPA Smog Hearing – Testimony of Environment Texas’ Alejandro Savransky

The Environmental Protection Agency holds a hearing today in Houston (one of only three in the nation) on its proposal to strengthen clean air standards. Environment Texas’ Alejandro Savransky testified on our behalf.

“My name is Alejandro Savransky and I am the Field Organizer for Environment Texas. Environment Texas is a statewide, citizen advocacy group with more than 20,000 members and e-activists. I am here today to urge you to follow the science and set a final ozone standard of 60 parts per billion. 

Clean air is the top priority for our members and it’s no surprise – Texas has some of the dirtiest air in the country. That’s why we were very pleased for the EPA to re-open this issue. Ozone is a powerful pollutant that can burn our lungs and airways, causing health effects ranging from coughing and wheezing to asthma attacks and even premature death. Children, senior citizens, and people with lung disease are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of ozone. As you know, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) considered 1700 scientific studies and learned that ozone is a harmful respiratory irritant at lower concentrations than previously recognized.

The best way for urban areas to meet the new ozone standard is to reduce major emissions sources of ozone including existing and new proposed coal plants and cement kilns and refineries. We particularly urge the EPA to crack down on illegal air emissions arising from so-called “upset” events at refineries and chemical plants. Environment Texas and Sierra Club recently settled a lawsuit with Shell Oil to reduce upset emissions by 80% at its Deer Park refinery. But Shell is hardly alone in these clean air violations – dozens of facilities around the state routinely release millions of pounds of unauthorized emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

We also need to reduce vehicular emissions through smarter transportation solutions. On-road vehicles contribute 35% of the NOx emissions in the Houston region. We can cut tailpipe emissions by further developing public transportation alternatives and promoting clean cars such as plug-in electric vehicles.”