Protect Our National Parks from Coal Plant Haze
- by: Sierra Club
- recipient: EPA
Will your next visit to one of our national parks include beautiful views of their natural beauty and wonder? Too many times, pollution from nearby coal-fired power plants blankets our parks in a smoggy haze.
Between now and the Fourth of July, EPA is taking public comments on a proposal that will reduce haze in our parks. Among their proposals are requirements that states actually take steps to reduce haze – current standards allow states to submit "do-nothing" plans that won't reduce haze for dozens of years.
Reducing haze also means reducing pollution elsewhere. As we clean up the air in national parks, it means fewer asthma attacks, heart attacks, and other harmful effects of the pollution that causes haze. Reducing haze can also help protect the climate as inefficient coal palnts retire and are replaced with clean energy.
The polluters are doing their best to undermine this proposed change. Their cozy relationship with Congress and state regulators means they like the do-nothing plans and will do their best to stop any further protections. But their insider influence can't beat our secret weapon: you. By flooding EPA with public comments in favor of strong protections for national parks, you can show them the public supports clean air and clear skies.
Between now and the Fourth of July, EPA is taking public comments on a proposal that will reduce haze in our parks. Among their proposals are requirements that states actually take steps to reduce haze – current standards allow states to submit "do-nothing" plans that won't reduce haze for dozens of years.
Reducing haze also means reducing pollution elsewhere. As we clean up the air in national parks, it means fewer asthma attacks, heart attacks, and other harmful effects of the pollution that causes haze. Reducing haze can also help protect the climate as inefficient coal palnts retire and are replaced with clean energy.
The polluters are doing their best to undermine this proposed change. Their cozy relationship with Congress and state regulators means they like the do-nothing plans and will do their best to stop any further protections. But their insider influence can't beat our secret weapon: you. By flooding EPA with public comments in favor of strong protections for national parks, you can show them the public supports clean air and clear skies.
Thank you for taking action to protect our national parks and wilderness areas from haze pollution. The proposed amendments to the regional haze rule are a critical step in tackling harmful health pollutants and ensuring that my next trip to a national park will include clear skies and the ability to enjoy the natural beauty our national parks were intended to preserve. The proposed amendments strengthen the rule and provide greater clarity to states about how to protect clean air in our iconic parks and wilderness areas.
Thank you for helping to ensure that every state does its fair share to protect our national parks and wilderness areas from haze pollution. Preserving our parks and wilderness areas should come before political posturing and maneuvering, which often lets the biggest and dirtiest polluters off the hook.
Strong regional haze safeguards will also improve public health for park visitors as well as the communities surrounding major sources of pollution -- this means fewer asthma attacks, respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and deaths associated with haze pollution.
However, I am concerned about several provisions in the current proposal, including:
1-Extending the deadline for states to submit their next round of haze cleanup plans by three years;
2-Potentially allowing states nearly a decade to avoid cleaning up sources of air pollution specifically identified by federal land managers as causing impairment of protected national parks and wilderness areas; and
3-Weakening the ability of EPA and the public to force corrective action if states fall behind in achieving their pollution reduction obligations.
Also, states can and should meet their current deadlines for preparing plans to clean up haze pollution. We need tighter enforcement, not more leniency.
[Your comment will go here]
Thank you for helping to protect our national parks during their centennial year.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionThank you for helping to ensure that every state does its fair share to protect our national parks and wilderness areas from haze pollution. Preserving our parks and wilderness areas should come before political posturing and maneuvering, which often lets the biggest and dirtiest polluters off the hook.
Strong regional haze safeguards will also improve public health for park visitors as well as the communities surrounding major sources of pollution -- this means fewer asthma attacks, respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and deaths associated with haze pollution.
However, I am concerned about several provisions in the current proposal, including:
1-Extending the deadline for states to submit their next round of haze cleanup plans by three years;
2-Potentially allowing states nearly a decade to avoid cleaning up sources of air pollution specifically identified by federal land managers as causing impairment of protected national parks and wilderness areas; and
3-Weakening the ability of EPA and the public to force corrective action if states fall behind in achieving their pollution reduction obligations.
Also, states can and should meet their current deadlines for preparing plans to clean up haze pollution. We need tighter enforcement, not more leniency.
[Your comment will go here]
Thank you for helping to protect our national parks during their centennial year.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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