Change to the Clean Air Act Is Built Into New Energy Bill

[G_j]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/16/politics/16enviro.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=print&position=

April 16, 2005

Change to the Clean Air Act Is Built Into New Energy Bill
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY

WASHINGTON, April 15 - Deep in the energy bill that was approved by a House committee this week, under a section titled "Miscellaneous," is a brief provision that could have major consequences for communities struggling to clean up their dirty air.

If it becomes law, it would make one of the most significant changes to the Clean Air Act in 15 years, allowing communities whose air pollution comes from hundreds of miles away to delay meeting national air quality standards until their offending neighbors clean up their own air.

The provision could especially affect states like New York, which has some of the nation's dirtiest air, and other Northeastern states that have always had difficulty meeting federal standards for ozone, a leading cause of smog, because much of any state's pollution originates in states to the south and west.

Under the new provision, the "downwind" states would not be required to meet clean air standards until the "upwind" states that were contributing to the problem had done so. Currently, states can get more time but only if they agree to added cleanup measures.

..more..
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edit to add this:

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050415/NEWS01/50415007/1001

(note: Smoky Mountains National Park has the worst air quality of all the national parks)

President Bush to visit Smokies for Earth Day event

By Julie Ball
STAFF WRITER
published: April 15, 2005 12:15 pm

GATLINBURG, Tenn. - President Bush will make a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park next week for an Earth Day event, according to the office of a Tennessee congressman.

The office of U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. announced that Bush plans to visit the park for an event Friday, April 22.

An official in the office said, “We can confirm that the White House has indicated he will be in the Smokies for an Earth Day event one week from today.”

Neither the White House nor the park would confirm the visit.

..more..

[G_j]

1. as one who lives in an area where ppl get sick from the air

(near Smoky Mountains National Park)

kick!!

[fighttotheend]

2. That just makes me want to hurl, BUSH $ Earth day yeah right..

Bush going to an event for EARTH DAY, that's like mixing oil and water., They just don't go together. All he cares about is his greedy pocket. That just makes me mad. He is such a PHONY. Two-faced( you get my point) But their are things we can do to help see the bill not get passed. Call the Senators....that's what I do, and leave a public opinion. eventually if they get enough calls, something has to be done and one way to stop BUSH, is through the senators, get them to turn and well....

[newyawker99]

3. Hi fighttotheend!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[fighttotheend]

4. Thanks..right back at ya!!! :-)

[cap]

5. Polluter PR for gutting the clean air act

is what this is.

This little change is Gutting the Clean Air Act

How much death and sickness will increase by this bill? I wonder if any of the proponents or their friends and families will get hurt by this bill. Clean Air knows no boundaries -- it doesnt just sit in the inner cities.

[fighttotheend]

7. He thinks his millions makes him a GOD

We only have (1) earth, but unfortunately, the environment issues take a back burner to other issues, but the reality is when our EARTH goes so do we! I belong to Defender's of wildlife and NRDC and others, they do their best but they are not being heard. I try my best but sometimes I feel if as I stand alone and my words are only whispers as I live in Pa and we were a blue state but our senators are both Republicans and that scares me. As with the putting the Artic drilling in the budget what a corrupt tactic because as a provision in the bill it only needed 50 some votes but as a legislative bill it would have needed 60 which they did not have. As it came down to 2 votes on being my Senator Spector.
Only together, if we all stand as one can we become a SHOUT, but many people don't even know whats going on.

[G_j]

9. good post and welcome to DU

Those are good organizations. Yes, education is a key.

[G_j]

6. glad to hear you take the time to make those calls

thanks, and welcome to DU! :hi:

[G_j]

8. * Urges U.S. Congress to Pass Energy Bill

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=anuVnVGs2QAI&refer=top_world_news

Bush in Radio Address Urges U.S. Congress to Pass Energy Bill

April 16 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said Congress should move quickly to pass energy legislation that would allow oil drilling and production in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

``Families and small businesses across the country are feeling the pinch from rising gas prices,'' Bush said in his Saturday radio address to the nation. ``If you're trying to meet a family budget or a payroll, even a small change at the pump can have a big impact.''

``America's prosperity depends on reliable, affordable and secure sources of energy,'' Bush said.

The average price for regular gasoline is projected to soar past last year's all-time peak of $2.06 a gallon to hit $2.28 this summer, according to the U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration. The U.S. Senate has passed an energy bill and it is now being prepared for debate in the House.

``In the coming days and weeks I'll talk more about what we need to do in Washington to make sure America has an energy policy that reflects the demands of a new century.'' Bush said. `` The first order of business is for Congress to pass an energy bill.''

..more..

[fighttotheend]

10. BUSH needs to be stoped

Next week, the full U.S. House of Representatives will have the chance to vote on an amendment offered by Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Nancy Johnson (R-CT) to prevent oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as part of the House floor vote on the comprehensive Energy Bill.

Drilling in the Arctic Refuge is not a path to energy independence or lower prices at the pump. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the Refuge has less than a single year's supply of oil that would not reach the market for at least 10 years. Meanwhile, the harm to wildlife and to our greatest wildlife refuge would be irreparable. We need to save national treasures like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for future generations.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Go to the DEN Action Center at http://www.denaction.org and send a message urging your representative to support the Markey-Johnson amendment. The vote may come up as early as WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, so please send your message today. Thanks for helping to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling.

[Toots]

11. He should spend Earth Day in Houston... the dirtiest city in America

by dirtiest I mean most polluted. Bush*'s home state is by far now the most polluted state in the Nation. I wonder if he feels proud of Texas's accomplishment..

[G_j]

12. area Bush is visiting on E-day: people getting ill from the air

(Bush's "clean air" policies would let/encourage the pollution to continue)

http://www.sierraclub.org/communities/2002report/north_carolina/

Communities at Risk

Asheville NC

Clean Air Progress Thwarted by Out-of-State Pollution

Asheville, North Carolina, has a history of clean air and magnificent vistas. But recent studies show that pollution from coal-burning power plants-mostly outside the state-is not only fouling the air but also contributing to respiratory and heart ailments and lung cancer among Asheville residents. Although North Carolina is taking steps to solve the problem, the Bush administration's lax policies will allow out-of-state pollution to thwart the state's efforts to clean up Asheville's air.

The major population center-and only real city-in far-western North Carolina, Asheville is nestled in a picturesque valley in the southern Appalachian mountains. Historically, people would visit for its clean air and scenic vistas. The air was so clean in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that people afflicted with tuberculosis came to Asheville to recuperate.(1) The Great Smoky Mountains, currently the country's most visited national park, is located a short distance west of the city.

Unfortunately, Asheville's air quality has taken a turn for the worse. In recent years, air pollution generated in neighboring states has inundated western North Carolina. The pollution has gotten so severe that it reduces average visibility in the Great Smoky Mountains by 80 percent during the summer months.(2)

The pollution is also causing illness in Asheville. Studies consistently demonstrate that air pollution is related to myriad health problems in the city, including respiratory and heart diseases, lung cancer, and possibly strokes.(3) Although the young and the elderly are most at risk, otherwise healthy people are not immune to the effects of air pollution. Dr. Clay Ballantine, a local physician specializing in internal medicine, concludes that air pollution is indeed causing health problems in Asheville. He notes that Asheville suffers from the highest incidence in the state of lung disease deaths from emphysema and pneumonia, while also having the lowest lung cancer death rates.(4)

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