Continued Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Proposed Amendments to Eliminate or Limit EPA Regulation of Toxic Emissions

There are some in the Senate that think polluted air is OK! In fact, amendments to the so called Small Business Bill, SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011, introduce changes that would eliminate air pollution control in the US. These amendments erode the Clean Air Act and reduce the responsibilities of the EPA to regulate the air we breathe. Coal-burning facilities will be free to expel toxic emissions and the monitoring of air quality could disappear. We should get prepared and put our air purifiers and air cleaners on HIGH, because if passed, coal-burning facilities will be unregulated and the air quality we breathe may get worse.

The EPA is the action arm of the Clean Air Act, monitoring and regulating some of the worse contributors of air pollution. Proposed amendments will eliminate, or at the very least, limit the EPA in regulating toxic emissions. Emissions into our atmosphere that contribute to climate change and are a major source of health risks.

Proposed Amendments

1. The McConnell Amendment proposes removal of all the Clean Air Act’s authority in the regulation of carbon pollution.
2. The Baucus Amendment proposes the removal of the monitoring and accounting of industry discharges. Additionally, it allows carbon producing facilities to build or modified operations without any of the required EPA regulatory oversight that exists today.
3. The Rockefeller Amendment proposes a 2 year delay for industries to implement EPA compliance mandates intended to improve carbon emission standards. In practical terms, this could mean permanent removal of EPA involvement given this kind of legislation can easily be extended. Making matters worse, the House of Representatives is also pressuring the Senate to reduce the role of the EPA regulatory controls, placing greater doubt on the fate of the EPA.

The EPA has been highly successful at reducing air pollution to 1/10 of what it was 30 years ago by enforcing air pollution guidelines established by the Clean Air Act. Coal-burning and other air polluting industries have been encouraged by the EPA to install systems that reduce polluting emissions using air purifiers and scrubbers. These industries have responded and as a result, we breathe cleaner air. This improvement trend can easily reverse if the EPA is removed from their industry role. As a result, there could be the same or greater air pollution and worse, increased airborne cancer causing toxins.

There is significant documented evidence that air pollution is linked to global warming, cardiovascular heart disease pulmonary disease (like asthma), and many other human ailments. If the Senate amendments are implemented, Americans may experience increases is airborne contamination from unregulated industries. Without mandates, these industries may implement fewer air purifiers and scrubber technologies as required by the EPA. With air pollution already at unacceptable levels throughout the US and technology upgrades for toxic pollution control slowing down, our health risks increase!