WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued
today’s “Bush
Administration’s Misstatement of the Day” on the Clean Air Act:
During
a speech in Michigan yesterday, President Bush said,
“This
administration, my administration strongly supports the Clean Air Act…”
(President Bush, Speech at Detroit Edison Monroe Power Plant in Monroe,
Michigan. 9/15/03)
Schakowsky
said, “While governor of Texas, President Bush’s state led the nation in
Clean Air violations and Houston became the nation’s smoggiest city.
As President of the United States, the Bush Administration is proposing
a plan that would do nothing to curb power plants' growing emissions of
carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. President Bush
cannot support the Clean Air Act while proposing to roll back public health
safeguards that protect local air quality and limit pollution.”
Background
(Courtesy of Sierra Club)
President
Bush's New "Clear Skies" Proposal:
A
Smokescreen for More Pollution
On
February 14, President Bush unveiled his plan to reduce air pollution,
the "Clear Skies Initiative". Instead of reducing air pollution, the President's
plan will actually result in more air pollution than currently allowed
under current law.
At
the same time, the Administration is considering weakening New Source Review;
an important Clean Air Act program that requires antiquated power plants
and factories to install modern pollution control equipment when they expand.
The
Administration's plan allows the use of "pollution trading". Pollution
trading allows dirty industries that cannot meet air quality standards
to buy the right to pollute from cleaner industries, resulting in acute
local impacts.
Under
the Administration's plan, 2 million tons more of acid rain-producing sulfur
dioxide could be released into our environment by 2010 than under current
law.
Under
current law, mercury emission levels will be reduced to between five and
15 tons by 2008, as much as a 90% reduction per plant. President Bush's
plan allows 26 tons of mercury of mercury emissions by 2010, only a 46%
reduction nationwide.
Current
law does not allow the trading of mercury because it causes brain, lung,
andkidney damage, as well as reproductive problems, and even death. The
EPA estimates that at least six million women of childbearing age have
levels of mercury in their bodies that exceed what the EPA considers acceptable.
President Bush's plan would allow the trading of mercury, thereby exposing
some communities to disproportionately higher level of this poison. |