March 9, 2005
Contact: Arthur Stamoulis
(302) 691-0112 ext. 222

Clean Air Advocates Praise Sen. Carper (pictured 2nd from right) for Defeat of President's Air Pollution Plan
Industry-Supported Bill Would Have Weakened the Clean Air Act

Wilmington, DE - Delaware clean air advocates today praised Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for refusing to weaken the Clean Air Act by defeating S. 131, the President's air pollution plan. The vote means that the controversial bill will not move forward in the Senate.

"Today's vote looks like the end for the President's industry-supported air pollution plan," said Arthur Stamoulis, Policy Analyst for Clean Air Council. "The bill would have let power plants get out of reducing many of their pollution levels for an additional two decades. Its defeat means that America will stay on track in improving its air quality. Senator Carper should be thanked for taking a stand for public health by voting down this horrible legislation."

Today's vote comes after months of delay as Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK) attempted to increase support for the bill. In the end, the bill was defeated due to criticism from committee Democrats and Republicans over provisions that would have repealed and weakened the Clean Air Act. Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and James Jeffords (I-VT) joined Democrats in voting against the bill. Opposition in the Republican ranks grew as well, as Senator John Warner (R-VA) submitted an amendment to strip out measures that weaken clean air protections for national parks.

"It is noteworthy that, even with a Republican majority in the committee, the President was unable to move this bill. That's because it would have resulted in dirtier air," said Stamoulis. "Senator Carper's leadership in defending the Clean Air Act against this bill deserves a lot of credit. We hope he will continue to fight for reductions in the pollution that causes global warming, without compromising on existing Clean Air Act protections."

Among the leading concerns which led to today's defeat was that the President's plan would have repealed several protections of the current Clean Air Act. Specifically, it would have:

• Weakened clean air act requirements for most industries;
  
• Weakened requirements to minimize mercury and toxic pollution;
• Weakened protections against haze and pollution for national parks;
  
• Revoked local and state authorities' ability to control out-of-state pollution; and
  
• Overturned commitment to timely, healthy air quality for Americans

"Power plants and other industrial polluters are major contributors to the public health problems in Delaware," said Stamoulis. "Power plants in the state emit approximately 9,000 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides, 30,000 tons of soot-forming sulfur dioxide and 300 pounds of mercury each year. These pollutants can cause asthma and heart attacks, learning disabilities and even death. It is in everyone's interest to see this pollution cleaned up."

Though the President's legislative plan was defeated today in Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release two air pollution rulemakings in the coming days. One addresses interstate air pollution, a major problem for Delaware, which is downwind of a great deal of pollution. The other sets new regulatory requirements for mercury emissions. Both rules have received criticism from clean air and public health advocates as giving polluters more time to clean up. In addition, the mercury rule has received criticism in the press for having been literally written by industry and containing questionable science.