|
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Houston) issued the following statement in response to the Houston Chronicle’s Air Toxics Investigation.
“For many years I have served as an elected representative of fence-line communities from Manchester to Baytown and many others affected by localized chemical emissions.”
“More than half of our area’s economic activity is based on energy and chemical businesses, so we are doubly affected by both the economic and health effects of those two industries.”
“Working with residents, company officials, and regulators, I have witnessed and encouraged tremendous improvement in the environmental technology over those many years. The Houston Chronicle’s recent series is a thought-provoking series about how far we have still to go.”
“The most alarming bad news is the high readings on localized monitors in east Houston and Harris County and the role of numerous underreported accidental leaks resulting in unsafe human exposure. The fact that our neighborhoods do not meet federal standards is unacceptable and requires immediate explanation and action.”
“The most significant good news is that cancer rates in these neighborhoods are not higher than normal, although I strongly support an updated comprehensive study of cancer rates in our communities. Having this information is a requirement for obtaining environmental justice for our communities.”
“Our office is taking this opportunity to discuss the findings of the Chronicle’s recent investigation and the future with many local, state, and federal officials and area chemical companies. I particularly look forward to participating in future public meetings on these topics with area companies and elected officials.”
“On the federal level, EPA is currently under a court order to implement national risk based regulations for air toxics like butadiene and benzene by the end of 2006, similar to those already in place in states other than Texas.”
“Since the state leadership in Austin has chosen to stand idly by, we must hold the Bush Administration to its duty to provide adequate standards and the industry should accept reasonable risk based regulation. I will use my position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to vigorously advocate for this result.”
“EPA is also about to release comprehensive national air toxics data for 1999, which will provide additional data to corroborate or question the Chronicle’s findings. However, we know now that more local monitoring data is necessary, because when this data is made public a race to be the low emitter among nearby facilities results.”
“As a representative of a district with one of the largest concentrations of energy and chemical facilities, I will continue to advocate effective energy policies to improve our area’s economy and fair environmental policies that ensure we do not need to sacrifice our health for our prosperity.”
###
|
Print this page
