SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY THE CLEAN AIR ACT

During a speech in Michigan yesterday, President Bush said,

"This administration, my administration strongly supports the Clean Air Act." (President Bush, Speech at Detroit Edison Monroe Power Plant in Monroe, Michigan. 9/15/03)

Schakowsky said, "While governor of Texas, President Bush's state led the nation in Clean Air violations and Houston became the nation's smoggiest city. As President of the United States, the Bush Administration is proposing a plan that would do nothing to curb power plants' growing emissions of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. President Bush cannot support the Clean Air Act while proposing to roll back public health safeguards that protect local air quality and limit pollution."

Background (Courtesy of Sierra Club)

President Bush's New "Clear Skies" Proposal:
A Smokescreen for More Pollution

On February 14, President Bush unveiled his plan to reduce air pollution, the "Clear Skies Initiative". Instead of reducing air pollution, the President's plan will actually result in more air pollution than currently allowed under current law.

At the same time, the Administration is considering weakening New Source Review; an important Clean Air Act program that requires antiquated power plants and factories to install modern pollution control equipment when they expand.

The Administration's plan allows the use of "pollution trading". Pollution trading allows dirty industries that cannot meet air quality standards to buy the right to pollute from cleaner industries, resulting in acute local impacts.
Under the Administration's plan, 2 million tons more of acid rain-producing sulfur dioxide could be released into our environment by 2010 than under current law.

Under current law, mercury emission levels will be reduced to between five and 15 tons by 2008, as much as a 90% reduction per plant. President Bush's plan allows 26 tons of mercury of mercury emissions by 2010, only a 46% reduction nationwide.

Current law does not allow the trading of mercury because it causes brain, lung, andkidney damage, as well as reproductive problems, and even death. The EPA estimates that at least six million women of childbearing age have levels of mercury in their bodies that exceed what the EPA considers acceptable. President Bush's plan would allow the trading of mercury, thereby exposing some communities to disproportionately higher level of this poison.