Ohio Moms are outraged at EPA’s attack on the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in the midst of a global respiratory pandemic: Sabotaging these standards is an unforgivable assault on our health

PRESS STATEMENT
April 16, 2020

Contact: Tracy Sabetta, 614.581.2907, tsabetta@momscleanairforce.org

Columbus, OH – Today, in the midst of a global respiratory pandemic, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is expected to finalize his attack on the life-saving Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). In response, Tracy Sabetta, Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force’s Ohio Chapter and Columbus area resident, issued this rebuke:

“Right now, Americans across the country are grappling with the impacts of coronavirus—a lethal respiratory pandemic. But incredibly, Andrew Wheeler insists on protecting industrial polluters, at the expense of our families’ health.

“The Trump Administration’s assault on life-saving standards that protect our babies and children from harmful mercury pollution is infuriating. To make matters worse, this rule is just one of an onslaught of dangerous moves that jeopardize public health and the environment—this at a time when protecting my family’s lungs has never been more important. My family and I work, play, and study in Franklin County, which received an F grade from the American Lung Association for air quality. Given this track record, any attempt to roll back pollution standards is unacceptable.

“The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are already fully implemented, and they are currently protecting families across the country from toxic air pollution. Since the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards were finalized in 2012, mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants in Ohio has decreased by 86%, with an estimated $4.6 billion in health benefits to Ohioans each year. Across the country, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards save 11,000 Americans from premature death annually.

“Today, Trump’s EPA has chosen to gamble with our children’s health for the benefit of coal industry profits. This crosses the line for Ohio’s moms and dads. This EPA Administrator, and this President, clearly care more about coal company profits than they do about our children. This attack on the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards is an outrage, and Ohio families will continue to fight these attacks on behalf of the most vulnerable among us: our children.”

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About Moms Clean Air Force: Moms Clean Air Force is a community of over one million moms—and dads—working together to fight air pollution, including the urgent crisis of our changing climate. For more information, go to http://www.momscleanairforce.org/or follow us on Twitter @CleanAirMoms, Instagram @cleanairmoms, or Facebook.