By: Mary Wagner, Nevada Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: August 21, 2025
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0194
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Hello, my name is Mary Wagner, and I am the Nevada Field Organizer with Moms Clean Air Force and EcoMadres. I'm also a mother of two living in Las Vegas—a city that has been my home for 18 years.
Unfortunately, Las Vegas is now one of the fastest-warming cities in the country. Together with Reno, Nevada holds two of the top rising temperatures cities in the nation.
We live in a neighborhood known as one of Las Vegas’ urban heat islands, where temperatures climb even higher due to limited green spaces, insufficient tree cover, and no safe cooling areas. We’ve always had hot weather, of course. But we’ve never experienced the kinds of temperatures, and the length of the heat waves, that we are seeing now. Summer here isn't only uncomfortable—it's become dangerous.
My oldest son suffers from asthma and allergies, and I've witnessed his symptoms worsen significantly as temperatures rise. The hot, dry air combined with poor air quality makes breathing difficult for him. There are many days when outdoor play isn't an option. We keep windows closed, run air purifiers constantly, and always have his inhaler and nebulizer nearby. This has become our reality, particularly during our increasingly long extreme heat season.
In 2024, Las Vegas endured seven consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 115 degrees. For three years running, we've experienced extreme heat arriving earlier and lasting longer. Last year alone, nearly 500 Nevadans lost their lives to heat-related causes. These aren't just statistics—they represent lost loved ones, grieving families, and communities in distress.
Wildfire smoke from California and Northern Nevada frequently blankets Las Vegas, further compromising our air quality. I've watched our skies turn gray and orange, our city covered in haze and heard my son's cough worsen as a result. When we retreat indoors for safety, our utility bills surge. Combined with increased medical expenses, our financial stability suffers alongside our health and I know our experience is not unique.
At Moms Clean Air Force and EcoMadres we firmly believe our children and future generations deserve clean air, clean water, and a sustainable future—a future where they can truly thrive, not merely survive. This is the promise we should be working toward, not retreating from.
I urge the EPA to maintain the Endangerment Finding and the critical safeguards that limit tailpipe pollution. We need decisive action. We need clean air. And we need leaders who prioritize our health and future over polluter profits.
Thank you for your time and consideration.