Showing posts with label Clean Air Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clean Air Act. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

New Transportation Rule Proposal will reduce S0x and N0x particulates to neighboring States

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/c045295ced7dcf6885257758005b74bb!OpenDocument  (link)

"EPA News Releases By Date: EPA Proposal Cuts Pollution from Power Plants in 31 States and D.C./ Rule would reduce smog and soot-forming emissions contributing to unhealthy air" Release date 07/06/2010 Contact Information Cathy Milbourn milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849, 202-564-4355

Back in "the day" before science took a look at the connections between air pollution and air particulates (particulates are microscopic parts of pollutants that are usually metal based and travel in air and weather patterns), it was assumed if you lived in town "A" and had a smoke stack, only town "A"'s air would be affected. Unfortunately, as the State of Arkansas learned, Air currents travel and particulate matter travels with. Arkansas achieved a status of "non-attainment" in West Memphis, Arkansas for over 5 years, because the pollutants from Memphis, TN carried over. It was not until last year, that West Memphis was put back into Attainment. Attainment is when the Air Quality of a given area is healthy and within the limits set by the EPA. There has been a push by the EPA to raise the health standards even higher. It is a fight tooth and nail with Industry to attempt to leave cleaner air for the citizens, because curbing pollution, cuts into Industry's bottom line.

For more information on the Proposed Air Transport Regulatory Actions. link are provided: http://www.epa.gov/airtransport/actions.html#jul10 (link)

“This rule is designed to cut pollution that spreads hundreds of miles and has enormous negative impacts on millions of Americans,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re working to limit pollution at its source, rather than waiting for it to move across the country. The reductions we’re proposing will save billions in health costs, help increase American educational and economic productivity, and -- most importantly -- save lives.”




The proposal, if passed, and not watered down by industry, will replace and improve upon the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ordered EPA to revise in 2008. During the Bush administration, the Clean Air Act was almost voided. CAIR  (Clean Air Interstate Rule) was able to remain temporarily until EPA was assigned a new Administrator; Lisa P. Jackson. She, along with the "Will of the People", will work to finalize the updated rule proposed today; July 6, 2010.




The EPA will accept public comment on the proposal for 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register. The agency also will hold public hearings. Dates and locations for the hearings will be announced shortly.


Stay tuned. There is a song by Theory of a Deadman, where the lines say..."It's like one step forward and two steps back". From 2005 - 2008 we lost environmental protections that had been growing and improving since 1979. After Hurricane Katrina, many rules that regulate Industry in Environmental matters were given waivers and passes on hard won rules.


This is similar to what happened between the Automobile Industry and the EPA. The reduction of emissions and the increase of mpg in vehicles were supposed to be raised to higher standards. In the 1980's you could find many cars that would get over 50 mpg. The automobile industry basically demanded for Americans to make a choice; safety? or gas mileage?


This is not progress, it is Russian Roulette decade after decade, and our Earth/Eco-system is ailing and overtaxed. Citizens, You must get involved. You must write letters, You must comment and show up for public meetings, I beg of you.


Thank you for every "one thing" you do for the betterment of our planet. Thank you for your Public Service. Thank you for making a difference and getting Involved!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

EPA Signs 2 Rules to Further Protect the Ozone Atmospheric Layer

EPA's News Release by Date: December 11, 2009 ~ Contact Deb Berlin, berlin.deb@epa.gov 202-564-4914, 202-564-4355
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/A47B718EDA7354C98525768900584FF8
The U.S. EPA announced that it has signed on to 2 final rules that will cut pollutants that eat away at the ozone layer.
~*~
Deniers blogs have hit the roof, and are ranting that there is no such thing as anthropogenic global warming, Capping that it is all a lie cooked up by Gore and Obama to rule the world. Deniers are claiming this is all a made up fanatical religion. I find the denier a zealot who does not care to consider the facts and hard evidence.

No matter who you are, when you look at the widening lack of ozone on our earth's pole, you must realize that we are losing the valuable 'sunscreen' if you will for the solar waves that come our way.

Really, once we no longer have cooling upper cyclonic winds, we will be a pile of tinder ready for the bar-b-Que; us being dinner...We have to take care of our habitat and that can be done using wise methods.

Progress living as a good steward of the habitat we are given. Any living thing that is not given the right balance of care will get weak, maybe ill and possibly die. The higher radiation experienced by humans, plants, soil and waters due to the depleted ozone layer, will compound problems. For humans, it is already known that it causes skin cancer, cataracts and weakened immune systems..

Thank you to the EPA for considering human health and doing the right thing even if it is not the most popular. All citizens who are affected by the environment can be involved by watching the news for public notices, attending public meetings when a controversial business wants to earn a permit. Public notices let people know what facilities are being permitted and the amounts of their pollutants.

Follow-up by inspecting those agencies who are charged with protecting our earth's resources. It is also, getting involved in reporting polluters and making sure they are taken to task for destruction of vital habitat.

These rules will force those who manufacture, and use refrigerants (all of U.S.) to consider a different process and stop what works against our ultimate quality of life.

This doesn't stop progress, it opens the doors for thinkers who can stop be plodding along behind Mr. Edison & Mr. Ford's way or the highway [Sp].

Forty years ago, certain large business enterprises ranted they could not remain in the automobile industry if they had to phase out engines that required leaded gasoline. Petrol manufacturers of the 1970's could not fathom producing gasoline without lead. Swore it would put both of them out of business....hm mm well - Not true.

"These rules advance U.S. compliance under the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer."

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/rulesoverview.html

Monday, December 7, 2009

EPA: Greenhouse Gases Threaten Public Health and the Environment / Science overwhelmingly shows greenhouse gas concentrations at unprecedented levels

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/08D11A451131BCA585257685005BF252

Finally! The Elephant in the Room has been pointed out...! Woowie.

EPA Top Administrator Lisa Jackson has made the statement that Greenhouse gases must be addressed as a direct threat to human health.

As usual Administrator Jackson has compiled information from sources worldwide, once more she comes to the public after having done her homework.

Kudos to the EPA leadership in considering this one habitat we have...!