Facts about the Clear Skies Bill

According to Environmental NGOs, the proposed Clear Skies Bill is rife with loopholes that weaken the Clean Air Act and allow increases in mercury, arsenic, lead, and other toxic chemical emissions from industrial facilities. “The industry-supported bill eliminates several cornerstones of the Clean Air Act which have reduced air pollution from power plants, oil refineries, chemical plants, and other smokestack industries for decades. The bill eviscerates protections that have saved lives and protected our environment for the past 35 years,”said Matt Petersen, President of GlobalGreen, USA. Groups from around the nation are concerned with the measure’s exemptions for known polluters, its roll-backs of existing laws; which are proving effective, and importantly, provisions that revoke state and local rights to strengthen air pollution protections beyond federal standards. “Last week, California Governor Schwarzenegger and New York Governor Pataki urged Congress not to undermine the Clean Air Act’s framework for states to enforce air quality regulations or create tougher ones for their state’s citizens. “It is important that city and state leaders stand together with environmental, medical and public health advocates in opposition to the Clear Skies bill,” said Jonathan Parfrey, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles. It’s a bad bill.” […]

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