By: Hailey Duncan, Program Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: June 2, 2021
About: Environmental Protection Agency Reconsideration of SAFE 1 Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0257
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Hi, my name is Hailey Duncan. I currently live in Washington DC and work at Moms Clean Air Force. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
Although I am not a parent, like many of the Moms Clean Air Force testifiers you’ve heard from today, I fight for climate justice because I believe that the zip code a child lives in should not determine whether or not they breathe clean air. So, I am testifying today in support of the administration’s proposal to reauthorize states' authority to set stronger tailpipe standards through the clean cars waiver. Not only that, I see the reinstatement of the cars waiver as an a necessity to strengthen federal clean car standards in the future—and continuation for us to move the needle toward meaningful action on the climate crisis. Clean Car Standards have already gone through a rigorous technical review process, which found auto manufacturers to have the technological ability to meet these much-needed decreased standards for tailpipes. Today, I am urging the EPA to reinstate these standards as originally designed to ensure reductions on harmful climate pollution.
I am testifying today as someone who has been privileged enough not to have lived in an overburdened community. However, my academic training in geography and public policy has led me down the path of working and researching with families who, because of their where they live, are disproportionately exposed to pollutants every day. Historically, transportation policy in this country has cut off or decimated communities of color to make way for highway systems without regard for the health impacts the increased traffic would cause. Those who were able stay in their community following highway development have faced increased pollution exposure—which, as we know, causes premature death and increases respiratory-related illnesses—from the cars brought through their community by highways. I urge you to think about families facing environmental injustices every day when weighing the decision to reinstate the clean cars waiver.
Reinstating the clean cars waiver would allow states who need or want to toughen tailpipe standards to work together and exercise their authority to protect families—especially families of color—from vehicle pollution. Thank you again for your time.