By: Shaina Oliver, Colorado State Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 2, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for hearing my comments today. My name is Shaina Oliver. I’m a Field Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force/EcoMadres Colorado. Moms Clean Air Force is over one million parents, guardians, and caregivers united in fighting for our children’s right to breathe clean air and to live in a safe environment. Here in Colorado, we are 41,000 parents strong. On behalf of Moms Clean Air Force/EcoMadres CO, I am testifying in support of the proposed standards, and call on EPA to finalize strong clean truck standards this year. Stronger transportation standards are crucial in protecting the health of our children and communities, and it is urgent that we act now.
Importantly, I am an Indigenous mother of four kids—together with my husband we are a family of six. My children and I are descendants and survivors of the genocide known as the “Indian Removal Act,” known to the Diné as “The Long Walk of the Navajo.”
As Indigenous people, we know environmental harms are embedded in our laws, policies, and governance. As a Diné, my people have seen our wealth, lands, and health become degraded due to these environmental harms.
Our family lives in a disproportionately impacted community in the Northeast Denver Metro area. As an Indigenous parent my family continues to be pushed to live near busy intersections and highways that are dangerous for our children and community members in many ways. On top of this, the Colorado Front Range continues to fail ozone pollution standards set by the EPA. Colorado now ranks as sixth worst state for ozone pollution, and this year we made it to 18th worst state for particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association's "State of the Air” report. As a community member living with asthma, I too am at risk of asthma attacks, stroke, and premature death. My youngest son, an 11 year old, was diagnosed with asthma last year. Indigenous, Black, and Brown communities are at higher risk of asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, leukemia, respiratory disease, adverse birth outcomes, and premature deaths than our white counterparts. When Indigenous people leave the reservations, we are redlined, segregated, and/or gentrified out of less polluted neighborhoods. Because people of color are pushed to live near highways and industrial areas that receive a hefty amount of truck traffic and particulate matter pollution, we experience a heavy health burden from pollution. Our kids are especially impacted.
Bottomline, parents in Colorado want to see a rapid transition to zero-emissions vehicles, and Moms Clean Air Force is calling on EPA to finalize the strongest possible clean trucks standards this year consistent with the Advanced Clean Trucks rules. Thank you.