By: Lucia Valentine, West Virginia State Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: February 22, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Lucia Valentine, and I am the West Virginia Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force. I am from Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and have lived in the Mountain State my whole life. Growing up on the banks of the Potomac River, I have experienced exacerbated climate disasters such as flooding due to the negative impacts that heavy industry has on my state. We know that soot can come from burning fossil fuels in power plants, industrial processes, and vehicle tailpipes, making communities across West Virginia vulnerable to particle pollution. I am calling on EPA to set a more health protective standard for soot of 8 micrograms per cubic meter for the annual standard and 25 micrograms per cubic meter for the daily standard.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed soot standard is a step in the right direction but does not go far enough. We know soot is not healthy to breathe and stronger soot standards can save lives, up to 16,000 a year. The EPA’s independent expert science advisors recommended standards stronger than what the agency has proposed.
There is also emerging evidence that soot pollution exposure may be harmful to our mental health, potentially increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and other mental health outcomes. In addition to mental health impacts, soot can penetrate our lungs and bloodstream, causing devastating health impacts including heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and shorter life expectancies to name a few.
Additionally, the proposed EPA soot standards fall short of the Biden administration’s commitment to advance environmental justice. Communities of color experience disproportionately high exposure to soot pollution. For these communities, EPA’s proposal won’t adequately address disparities in soot-related health impacts.
The Environmental Protection Agency needs to set the strongest science-based soot standards to clean up our air, advance environmental justice, and protect our health.