Bush Administration’s air proposals could endanger public health

An interim report by the National Research Council proves that the Bush Administration's proposed Clean Air Act revisions take undue risks with public health, according to grassroots organisation, Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP America).


“The report states that, over time, existing rules would provide more stringent emissions reductions than the Administration’s new Clear Skies proposal could,” REP America’s policy director Jim DiPeso stated.

“With half the nation’s population exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution, there is no justification for backsliding on clean-up and exposing children and their families to greater danger.”

According to REP America, Clear Skies would also eliminate current rules in the Clean Air Act that require old power plants to install modern pollution reduction technology if plant modifications would result in significant increases in harmful emissions.

The goal of the rules should be to ensure continuing improvement in air quality and reductions in levels of pollution, Mr DiPeso added.

“The Administration’s proposal would allow old, coal-fired power plants to escape clean-up requirements, which would, in addition, give the old plants an unfair competitive advantage over newer, cleaner facilities,” he pointed out.

REP America advises the government that all power plants should have to install modern pollution reduction technology by a fixed deadline, as recommended in a 2003 report by the National Academy of Public Administration.

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