By: Patrice Tomcik, National Field Manager, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: August 25, 2021
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0208
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
My name is Patrice Tomcik, and I am a National Field Manager for Moms Clean Air Force, an organization of over 1 million moms and dads united to protect our children’s health from air pollution and climate change. I live in the town of Gibsonia, located in southwestern Pennsylvania, with my husband and two children, where vehicle pollution degrades our air quality and contributes to climate change.
I am asking EPA to finalize the strongest possible greenhouse gas emissions standards for light duty vehicles in order to protect children’s health and future.
Today was the first day of school for my two sons. Although I am thankful to have in-person classes again, I am also anxious about sending my sons back to school too. My children’s school is located less than 500 feet from the heavily trafficked State Route 228. Studies have shown that the highest daytime exposures of traffic pollution are within 500 feet of a busy road. On an average day, at least 10,000 vehicles and 500 trucks travel this heavily congested roadway. Closing school windows and doors can help to lessen the traffic pollutant exposures, but the reality is that fine particles, ultrafine particles, gases, and vapors are able to readily penetrate the indoors, where they can be breathed in by young lungs.
In the evening, my kids attend outdoor two-hour sports practices and games at the school sports complex, located near the roadway. This is the environment my children have been exposed to since kindergarten and now through their high school years.
Unfortunately, my story is not unique, since many schools across the nation are built near busy roadways, because the land is cheap.
I know that children are especially impacted by pollution since their lungs and brains are still developing until early adulthood. Toxic air pollution exposures can have deleterious effects that can last a lifetime.
I am very worried about what my children are breathing into their lungs every day. My youngest son is a cancer survivor and is immune compromised. As a mother, I try to make his home environment as healthy as possible, but I know that I can’t control the air my son breathes and depend on Administrator Regan and the EPA to do your jobs.
Please finalize the strongest possible climate pollution limits on cars and light trucks, to help protect our children’s health and futures.
Thank you.