The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced 31 planned actions aimed at rolling back various rules and programs designed to protect public health from pollution. This move has drawn criticism from the American Lung Association, with its President and CEO Harold Wimmer issuing a strong statement in response.
Wimmer stated, "Under the guise of helping individual Americans, the actions announced today would constitute a historic handout to polluters at the direct expense of the health of families across America." He emphasized that these actions contradict the EPA's mission to safeguard the environment and human health. Wimmer also highlighted that this decision conflicts with the Administrator’s promise to ensure clean air for all Americans.
One specific area of concern is the reconsideration of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which are crucial for protecting infants from mercury emissions produced by coal-fired power plants. Other regulations targeted for rollback include limits on particle pollution, measures to reduce emissions from new vehicles, and efforts to address methane leaks and toxic emissions.
Wimmer noted that even fundamental findings about carbon dioxide, methane, and other pollutants' impact on public health are being reconsidered. He stressed that these findings are well-established in both science and law.
He reassured that despite these announcements, current clean air protections remain in place. The EPA must adhere to legal procedures before any changes can be made. The American Lung Association plans to actively defend these protections using all available resources.
"Clean air doesn’t just happen by default," Wimmer said. "To cut dangerous pollution from the air we breathe, it takes work. It takes strong standards. It takes implementation and enforcement, not rollbacks." He warned that without adherence to regulations, pollution levels could rise, leading to increased illness and asthma attacks among children.
In conclusion, Wimmer declared that through these proposed actions, the EPA is establishing a legacy marked by disregard for public health. The American Lung Association remains committed to defending clean air standards and lung health.
