By: Hazel Chandler, Arizona Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: March 4, 2024
About: EPA Good Neighbor Rule Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0402
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Hazel Chandler, and I am a field organizer with Moms Clean Air Force representing over 1.5 million moms nationwide and 26,000 moms in Arizona. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to expand the Good Neighbor Plan to reduce cross-state pollution. The original proposal benefited Arizona as it required pollution reductions from our neighboring states. Now EPA is proposing to add Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Kansas, and Tennessee to the Good Neighbor Plan which would mean reductions in air pollution from sources in those states, benefiting people both inside and outside of those states, including here in Arizona. I strongly support this action to protect our residents as well as to be a “Good Neighbor.”
Over 70% of Arizona residents live in counties receiving failing grades for particle pollution and ozone. Daily it is impacting our health and threatening our quality of life and increasing mortality risks. This is exactly what has happened to me. I have lived in cities with failing grades for air pollution for most of my adult life and pollution spikes as well as cumulative damage has wreaked havoc with my health and is currently threatening to cut my life short. I am a mom, grandmom and recently a great-grandmother living with asthma, respiratory issues, chronic inflammation, immune disfunction, and stage four cancer.
For as long as I remember, every time the pollution levels go up, I experience significant spikes in symptoms. I do not need an air quality alert to tell me what the levels are in my community, I feel it.
Scientists and health professionals tell us beyond a shadow of doubt that ozone is wreaking havoc with our health – even the health of unborn children. We see the devastating impacts every day on the health of Arizona residents, especially young children, elderly and the most vulnerable. Maya Angelou and others tell us that when we know better, we must do better. In Arizona, we know better, but we have put profits over health and refused to address the impacts of pollution generated in and out of Arizona. It is time for us to be Good Neighbors and address the emissions.
I am pleased that the plan includes emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants as well as a wide range of industrial pollution sources.
While the damage in my body is done and my quality of life has been greatly impacted, I plead with you to have the courage to enact strong good neighbor rules without delay. Stronger standards would prevent needless stress and trauma for tens of thousands of families like mine.
All families and communities deserve to breathe clean air. Thank you for your work and thank you for your time.