Sierra Club Title: "Jeanette"

Rhetoric

ANNOUNCER: “Jeanette MacNeille has asthma. She is one of 10 million Pennsylvanians at risk from unhealthy air. A risk that’s growing because the Bush administration is allowing power plants to put more pollution in our air.”

CHYRON: “Upper Darby, Pennsylvania; Jeanette MacNeille is one of 10 million Pennsylvanians at risk from unhealthy air (American Lung Association, State of the Air, 2003); The Bush Administration is increasing the threat, allowing power plants to put more pollution in our air (67 Federal Register 80186, 12/31/02; 68 Federal Register 61248, 10/27/03)

VIDEO: Jeanette MacNeille gardening; Power plant.

DR. MARK POSNER: “Any guidelines that use the restrictions on industrial pollution can only have a negative effect on patients with chronic respiratory disease.”

CHYRON: “Dr. Mark Posner, Allergy and Asthma Specialist”

VIDEO: Dr. Mark Posner

JEANETTE MACNEILLE: “If the air quality in Philadelphia is worse, I am going to be in the hospital more often.”

ANNOUNCER: “There is a better way. Enforce our clean air laws and protect our families.”

CHYRON: “www.sierraclub.org/community; Mr. President: There is a better way. Enforce our clean air laws and protect our families. Paid for by the Pennsylvania chapter of Sierra Club.”

The Facts

Bush Clear Skies Initiative Will Improve Air Quality

The Clear Skies Initiative Would “Create A Mandatory Program That Would Dramatically Reduce Power Plant Emissions Of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) [By 73%], Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) [By 67%], And Mercury [By 69%] By Setting A National Cap On Each Pollutant.” (EPA Clear Skies Website, www.epa.gov/clearskies, Accessed 4/20/04; “Fact Sheet: President Bush Announces Clear Skies & Global Climate Change Initiatives,” White House Website, www.whitehouse.gov, Accessed 4/20/04)

Clear Skies Is Modeled After Successful Acid Rain Reduction Program With Proven Results. “The acid rain reductions, contained in Title IV of the 1990 CAAA, are of special importance because they in part serve as a model for the Administration’s recent Clear Skies Initiative... . Title IV has, by all accounts, been highly successful. Gregg Easterbrook, a senior editor at the New Republic, wrote last summer that the results have been ‘spectacular. Acid rain levels fell sharply during the 90’s, even as coal combustion (its main cause) increased.’” (Scott H. Segal, Environment And Public Works Committee, U.S. Senate, Testimony, 3/12/02)

Clear Skies Will Remove More Pollutants Than The Clean Air Act. “Compared to the most stringent regulations allowed under current law, the President’s proposal will reduce SO2 emissions by at least an additional 25 million tons over the next decade, NOx emissions by at least an additional 10 million tons over the next decade, and mercury emissions by at least an additional 20 tons over the next six years from power plants.” (Environmental Protection Agency, “New EPA Data Shows Dramatic Air Quality Improvements From Clear Skies Initiative,” Press Release, 7/1/02)

National Research Council Study Endorses “Multi-State, Multi-Pollutant” Approach Of Clear Skies. “This new study from the National Research Council, a division of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that while air pollution is declining, the reduction could be accelerated by a ‘multi-state, multi-pollutant’ approach that sets broad overall reduction targets, then allows industrial facilities to trade reduction permits with each other. … Here’s what was missing from the coverage. The ‘multi-state, multi-pollutant’ approach just endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences is exactly what the Bush administration has proposed to adopt under its Clear Skies initiative.” (Gregg Easterbrook, Easterblogg, www.tnr.com/easterbrook.mhtml?pid=1276, Accessed 2/5/04)

ü National Research Council Study Favors Cap-And-Trade Program In Clear Skies. “The committee that wrote the report recommended that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency use an approach that targets groups of pollutants instead of individual ones. Revised or new regulations also should consider how air pollution travels from state to state and across international borders. Market-based approaches, such as emissions cap-and-trade programs – which set limits on the overall amount of emissions from industry but allow individual companies to buy and sell pollution ‘allowances’ – should be used whenever practical and effective.” (The National Academies, “Clean Air Act Is Working, But Multipollutant, Multistate Approach And Stronger Focus On Results Are Needed To Meet Future Challenges,” Press Release, 1/29/04)

National Governors Association Supports The Flexible, Market-Based Approach. “Congress should pass legislation to establish a flexible, market based program to significantly reduce and cap emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and to promote voluntary reductions of carbon dioxide from electric power generators. The legislation should provide regulatory certainty by establishing reduction targets for emissions, phase-in reductions over a reasonable period of time, and provide market-based incentives, such as emissions-trading credits, to help achieve the required reductions.” (National Governors Association, “Regulation Of Pollution From Electric Power Plants,” Legislative Update, 9/24/02)

Adirondack Council Supports Clear Skies. “The Adirondack Council … praised President George W. Bush for making acid rain legislation a top domestic priority for Congress in the 2003 session. … ‘By making deep cuts in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury pollution from the nation’s smokestacks, we can protect our public lands and waters, and improve the lives of tens of thousands of Americans suffering from air pollution-related lung diseases,’” [said Adirondack Council Executive Director Brian Houseal]. (Adirondack Council, “Adirondack Council Praises President Bush For Making Acid Rain Legislation A Top Priority For 108^th Congress,” Press Release, 1/29/03)

Democrat Speaker Of West Virginia House Of Delegates Says Clear Skies Would Improve Visibility. “Clear Skies would place caps on emissions of three harmful pollutants - sulfur oxide, nitrous oxide and mercury. These new caps would result in an average emissions reduction of 70 percent by the year 2020. This significant improvement in the level of air emissions would reduce smog levels, improve visibility at national parks and help further protect our ecosystems from the adverse effects of acid rain.” (Bob Kiss, Op-Ed, “Congress Should Pass Clear Skies, It Makes Sense Environmentally And Economically,” Charleston [WV] Daily Mail, 4/19/03)

Clear Skies Benefits Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “Jim Renfro, air quality specialist with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, said it would take large reductions in sulfur and nitrogen emissions to protect public health and restore the park's ecosystem. Renfro said that overall he considers the Clear Skies Act to be a positive overall step that should reduce pollutants in the park by 70 to 80 percent over the next 10 to 15 years. ‘These are large reductions no matter how you look at it,’ Renfro said. ‘The benefits are clearly there. … We are in an area that will clearly benefit the most from the Clear Skies Initiative,’ Renfro said. ‘When those reductions start to occur - and most of the improvements will be in the East - the Smokies will be downwind where those improvements are going to happen.’” (Morgan Simmons, “Clear Skies Act Will Hurt Park, Group Says,” Knoxville [TN] News-Sentinel, 3/9/03)

A Balance Can Be Struck Between Growth And Clean Air Consciousness. Former Rep. Bob Clement (D-TN), a former Tennessee Valley Authority board member, stated last year that Clear Skies has “a lot of merit.” There was no interest in a proposal by Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT), “which would establish more stringent reductions in air pollution. Rep. Clement . . . said the Jeffords bill ‘will cost billions of dollars for TVA ratepayers’ should it become law. He said while he favors clean air and water, ‘We’ve got to use some common sense and judgment, too. I’m not for shutting down our industry and putting hundreds of thousands out of work.’” (Andy Sher, “Senate Hopefuls Support Bush Environment Plan,” Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/8/02)

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Bush Administration Implementing New Clean Air Regulations

Bush EPA Proposed Interstate Air Quality Rules. “The proposed Interstate Air Quality Rule would reduce emissions of SO2 and NOx in 29 eastern states and the District of Columbia in two phases. SO2 emissions would be reduced by 3.6 million tons in 2010 (approximately 40 percent below current levels) and by another 2 million tons per year when the rules are fully implemented (approximately 70 percent below current levels). NOx emissions would be cut by 1.5 million tons in 2010 and 1.8 million tons annually in 2015 (about 65 percent below today’s levels).” (Environmental Protection Agency, “Interstate Air Quality Rule: Basic Information,” www.epa.gov, Accessed 4/29/04)

New Diesel Rules Will Significantly Cut Pollution. “EPA is proposing a comprehensive national program to reduce emissions from nonroad diesel engines by treating engine controls and reduced sulfur fuel as a system to gain the greatest emission reductions. The proposed emission standards would apply to diesel engines used in most kinds of construction, agricultural, and industrial equipment. Because the emission control devices can be damaged by sulfur, EPA is also proposing to reduce the allowable level of sulfur in nonroad diesel fuel by more than 99 percent.” (Environmental Protection Agency, “Reducing Nonroad Diesel Emissions,” www.epa.gov/nonroad, Accessed 4/29/04)

ü Diesel Rules Embraced By Natural Resources Defense Council. “The administration’s biggest success has been its regulation of diesel fuels. In the face of fierce industry hostility, the Bush crowd decided that the benefits of diesel regulation far outweighed the costs. The Bush initiatives were applauded by even its most ardent critics. An official from the Natural Resources Defense Council called the diesel emissions regulations ‘the most significant public health proposal in decades.’” (David Brooks, Op-Ed, “Clearing The Air,” The New York Times, 4/20/04)

EPA Issued New Ozone Transport Rules. “EPA’s regional ozone transport rule, known as the NOx SIP Call, will significantly reduce NOx emissions in 19 eastern states and the District of Columbia by approximately 600,000 tons starting in the summer of 2004 and by nearly 1 million tons when fully implemented.” (Environmental Protection Agency, “Ozone Trend Analysis Shows Continued Progress,” Press Release, 4/28/04)

ü Ozone Levels Down Across United States. “EPA’s analyses of ozone air quality trends, which will be released May 4, summarizes the state of ozone air quality for 2003 and examines trends in monitoring and emissions data since 1980. The report will show that ozone levels across the nation were down substantially in 2003. In fact, many areas of the country experienced their lowest ozone concentrations since 1980.” (Environmental Protection Agency, “Ozone Trend Analysis Shows Continued Progress,” Press Release, 4/28/04)

New EPA Guidelines Will, For First Time In History, Regulate Mercury From Power Plants. “EPA Administrator Leavitt assured members of Congress today that proposed regulations to control mercury emissions from power plants would not be delayed and would be issued this year. ‘I feel confident that, for the first time in history, we will regulate mercury from power plants and we will do it this year,’ Leavitt told the Senate VA-HUD Appropriations subcommittee.” (Michael Posner, “Leavitt Vows EPA Rules Soon To Limit Mercury Emissions,” National Journal’s CongressDaily, 3/25/04)

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