Contact: Sasha Tenenbaum, stenenbaum@momscleanairforce.org, (917) 887-0146
Washington, DC—Today, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan announced the finalization of new National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particle pollution, also known as PM2.5 or soot. In response to the proposal, Moms Clean Air Force Ohio River Valley Field Organizer Rachel Meyer released the following statement:
“Particle pollution is a killer. Here in Pennsylvania, researchers estimate that particle pollution cuts short over 25,000 lives per year—a staggering toll for Pennsylvania families and communities. Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable to the harms of soot pollution. We commend EPA for taking a significant step forward in strengthening the annual standard for particle pollution, also known as soot, to 9 micrograms per cubic meter from its current level at 12. EPA’s strengthened national health standard for particle pollution is the first improvement in over a decade. Soot is associated with increased infant mortality, hospital admissions for heart and lung diseases, cancer, and increased asthma severity. EPA’s finalized protection is a welcome step towards cleaner, healthier air for all children.
“This is personal for me: I live in Southwestern Pennsylvania where there is an ethane cracker plant manufacturing plastic. This plant alone is permitted to emit up to 163.7 tons of particle pollution annually. Our region is ranked as the 14th worst for year-round particle pollution by the American Lung Association, and 20th worst for 24-hour particle pollution. I have asthma, and struggle to breathe when the air quality is poor. The ethane cracker plant has been operational for just over a year and has already had multiple flaring events during which thick black smoke billows from flames hundreds of feet high.
“Taken together, all of the EPA protections under Administrator Regan’s tenure are offering much-needed and significant progress. EPA’s recent methane rule will dramatically slash climate-heating methane pollution–and protect people from the harmful volatile organic compounds and toxics released along with methane. Stronger pollution protections for vehicles and power plants are anticipated in the coming months. So much is at stake for our children, our communities, and our collective future. Members of Moms Clean Air Force will continue to demand that every one of these critical EPA protections gets across the finish line. We have absolutely no time to lose.”