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November 18, 2003
Arthur Stamoulis
(215) 567-4004 x222
THE ENERGY BILL WILL
KEEP PENNSYLVANIA AIR DIRTY
Study shows how Energy Bill will impact Asthma Cases,
Hospitalizations, Emergency Room Visits, and More
Washington, D.C. - A study by the nation's
leading air quality consulting firm, Abt Associates, released
today shows exactly how the energy bill now being considered
in Washington will affect Pennsylvanians and the air they
breathe. The study finds that a last-minute change to the
Clean Air Act buried in the energy bill will lead to persistent
public health problems nationwide.
"Timely compliance with metro area
air standards in the Clean Air Act could prevent 4,160 asthma
attacks and 51 hospital admissions for respiratory distress
each year in Pennsylvania," said Arthur Stamoulis of
Clean Air Council. "The energy bill will delay these
important pollution measures for years, putting off improvements
to Pennsylvania's air quality."
The new analysis by Abt Associates finds
that allowing cities to delay the pollution reduction measures
needed to achieve ozone smog clean
air standards will result in:
- 4,160 avoidable asthma attacks in Pennsylvania
each year
- 51 avoidable hospital admissions in
Pennsylvania each year
- 5,976 avoidable missed school days
in Pennsylvania each year
The energy bill language, which was inserted
into the energy bill conference report by Rep. Joe Barton
(R-TX), lets communities with unhealthy air quality delay
taking action to clean up the pollution generated locally
by pointing the finger at pollution sources outside their
borders. It also allows them to avoid taking action to comply
with the more protective standards set to go into place
later this year.
On November 18, Senator Arlen Specter
(R-PA) sent a letter to the energy conference chairman expressing
concern over this issue. He wrote that these changes could
affect many states and that "[a]n issue of this import
should be aired through the Environment and Public Works
Committee and the full Senate prior to approval." The
Senator concluded by writing, "I urge you to oppose
any Clean Air Act changes in the energy bill."
"This energy bill turns back the
clock on the Clean Air Act, leaving nearly 130 million Americans
breathing unhealthy air," said Angela Ledford, Director
of Clear the Air, a coalition of clean air and public health
advocates working to improve air quality standards.
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