For Immediate Release CONTACT: Amber Hard February 27, 2003 515-314-4273 (cell) Senators Grassley and Harkin Called to Stand Up For Clean Air, Oppose New Bush Air Pollution Plan Introduced in Congress Plan will increase mercury pollution, comes just days after EPA report showed threat to children rising Clean air and public health advocates today called on Iowa’s Senators Grassley and Harkin to oppose the Administration’s “Clear Skies Initiative” air pollution plan, which was introduced in Congress today. The plan deals with pollution from the oldest and dirtiest “grandfathered” power plants. “Just this week, the Administration finally released a report stating in no uncertain terms the growing danger to children posed by power plant emissions of mercury. The study also reaffirmed the explosion of asthma among our nation’s youth,” said Amber Hard, Advocate for Iowa PIRG. “But today, just days later, the Administration is putting forward a plan that will let power plants spew even more mercury, more of the pollution that causes asthma and death, and an unlimited amount of global warming pollution,” Erin Jordahl of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club said. “Senators Grassley and Harkin need to stand up and tell them that’s unacceptable.” According to an internal U.S. EPA analysis made public last year, the Bush air pollution plan would have weaker limits, over a longer timeframe, than just enforcing the Clean Air Act currently on the books. These include: § The Bush air pollution plan will allow three times as much mercury pollution as enforcing the laws on the books, and isn’t fully implemented until 2018 – a decade later than current law. § The Bush air pollution plan allows for a 36% increase in the smog-forming pollution that cause asthma attacks, and a 50% increase in the soot-forming pollution that can cause death. § Even though power plants are the largest source of U.S. global warming pollution, responsible for 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, the Bush air pollution plan does not deal with the issue at all. For a more complete analysis of the impacts of the Bush plan, please see the attached fact sheet. “Women of child-bearing age, and all Iowa parents, have good reasons to be concerned about the emissions from these oldest and dirtiest power plants,” Hard said. “Iowa Senators need to let Washington know the last thing Iowans want is more pollution in the air. Furthermore, recent polls show that Iowans support developing more of our energy from clean, renewable power sources. The Bush Administration energy policies lead us in the wrong direction.” According to a study by EPA’s own consultants, Abt Associates, pollution from these grandfathered power plants currently shortens the lives of almost 300 Iowans each year. These same plants emit pollution that triggers almost 5500 asthma attacks in Iowa every year, many of which occur in children. This bill was introduced as the chorus of state Attorneys General are opposing the Bush Administration's air pollution policies continues to grow. At the end of January Pennsylvania became the 10th state to challenge EPA's weakening changes to the New Source Review program, which changes would allow increasing emissions from power plants, paper mills, refineries and chemical plants across the nation. So far this week the Illinois and Delaware have joined the lawsuits, as well as the District of Columbia. Iowa PIRG and the Sierra Club are urging Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller to join before the March 3 deadline. # # # Erin E. Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] www.iowa.sierraclub.org