By: Patrice Tomcik, National Field Director, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 9, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0829
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
My name is Patrice Tomcik, and I am the National Field Director for Moms Clean Air Force an organization of over 1.5 million moms and dads united to protect our children’s health from air pollution and climate change. I live with my husband and two children in the town of Gibsonia, located in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where vehicle pollution degrades our air quality and contributes to climate change.
EPA’s proposed rule for multipollutant emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles are an important step forward to better protect children from the health harms of air pollution and climate change. Moms across the country are calling on EPA to finalize the strongest possible clean cars standards this year.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States with passenger cars and trucks contributing 58% of the climate warming pollution within this sector. Climate change has contributed to shorter, warmer winters providing ideal conditions for Lyme disease carrying ticks to thrive and multiply faster especially in the Northeast. I have seen evidence of this as over ten people I know have been treated for Lyme disease in the past five years, including my husband. Checks for ticks have become a standard routine in our house as I have repeatedly had to remove them from my family and dogs.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to shorter warmer winters in the Northeast, strong clean car standards will help reduce tailpipe pollution that harms our health by accelerating our transition to zero-emissions vehicles.
My children’s school is located approximately 175 feet from State Route 228, which has lots of heavy traffic. Studies have shown that the highest daytime exposures of traffic pollution are within 500 feet of a busy road. On an average day, at least 10,000 vehicles and 500 trucks travel this heavily congested roadway. Tailpipe pollution can readily penetrate the indoors where it can be breathed in by young lungs. In the evening, my kids attend outdoor sports at the sports complex located near the roadway. This is the environment my children have been exposed to since kindergarten and now through their high school years.
Unfortunately, my story is not unique since many schools across the nation are built near busy roadways because the land is cheap.
I know that children are especially impacted by pollution since their lungs and brains are still developing until early adulthood. I am very worried about what my children are breathing into their lungs every day. My youngest son is a cancer survivor and is immune-compromised.
I am urging EPA to finalize this year the strongest possible standards for light duty vehicles to protect our children’s health and futures.
Thank you.