Take Action on the Endangerment Finding
Over the past few months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made several proposals which, if instated, will roll back regulations on pollutants that harm human health and exacerbate the climate crisis. In today’s newsletter, I’ll briefly explain three recent proposals and include links where you can make a comment on the proposals to be used in the EPA’s decision-making process.
Note the deadlines for commenting on each proposal: August 7 for the repeal of power plant emission standards, August 11 for the repeal of tighter standards for emission of hazardous air pollutants, and September 15 for repeal of vehicle emissions standards.
The first proposal, “Repeal of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units”, repeals pollution standards for power plants. If it is repealed, fossil fueled power plants will be able to spew more carbon and other greenhouse gases into the air, exacerbating climate change. You can read the proposed rule and leave a public comment HERE, due by August 7. At the bottom of the newsletter, I’m including the wording of the Arizona Interfaith Power and Light (AZIPL) petition opposing the proposal. The deadline for signing the AZIPL petition has passed (my bad!), but if you don’t want to write your own comment you can use theirs and (from my understanding) the EPA publishes the number of people who made a comment along with the comment.
The second proposal, “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units”, weakens emissions standards for toxic pollutants such as mercury. Mercury emitted into the air makes its way from the air into water and soil and eventually into our food. It is a neurotoxin that is especially dangerous for pregnant women and children. You can read the proposed rule and leave a comment HERE, due by August 11. Again, AZIPL put out a petition whose wording I am copying at the bottom of the newsletter if you wish to use it.
The third and most recent proposal, “Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards”, would repeal vehicle emissions standards as well as what’s known as the "endangerment finding”. The endangerment finding, published by the EPA in 2009, was the result of an analysis of the effects of greenhouse gases, and it concluded that greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act and threaten human welfare.
The importance of the endangerment finding is that, because it designates greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, it means the federal government is required to try to regulate greenhouse gases. Should the current proposal take effect, the federal government will not have to regulate greenhouse gases and motor vehicles and engines will not have to meet emissions standards. The result will be more greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate change. You can read the proposed rule and submit a comment HERE, due by September 15. I expect that AZIPL will put out a petition opposing this proposal in the next week or so. I will send that along when it’s available. But it won’t hurt to submit your own comment as well!
AZIPL Petition Against “Repeal of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units”
“To the EPA:
My faith motivates me to care for all of Creation, including my neighbors. I oppose the proposals to weaken power plant carbon pollution standards, which limit carbon pollution from existing coal-fired and new gas-fired power plants.
As we face the impacts of climate change and increasing environmental degradation, we need stronger protections against pollution. Power plants are a significant source of carbon pollution that are not only impacting climate change, but also negatively affecting public health. The EPA projects that in 2035 alone the 2024 carbon pollution standard would prevent 1,200 premature deaths, and between 2028 and 2047 it would have $120 billion in health benefits.
Many of our communities are experiencing the harms of climate change right now. As a person of faith and conscience, I feel compelled to care for my neighbors, many of whom have experienced harm from pollution and climate change. Protecting our air is a moral imperative, not protecting polluter interests. I urge the EPA to stay true to its mission of protecting human health and the environment. Do not finalize this dangerous repeal of carbon pollution standards.”
AZIPL Petition Against “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units”
“To the EPA:
As a person of faith and conscience, I do not support the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to weaken the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS).
Everyone’s access to clean air is a moral concern. Coal-fired power plants release mercury and other toxics into our air, finding their way into our lungs, water, and food. Mercury in particular is a potent neurotoxin that causes permanent damage to the brains of babies, leading to developmental delays, learning disabilities, and birth defects. The other air pollutants, like arsenic, are just as dangerous and linked to cancer; damage to the eyes, skin, and breathing passages; harm to kidneys, lungs, and nervous system.
We are called to be healers of the Earth and to protect and preserve our planet for future generations. Repealing the stronger mercury pollution standards adopted in 2024 will mean sicker kids and more deaths for my neighbors. Our communities are sacred – our neighbors shouldn’t be left to deal with devastating consequences of deadly pollution while companies creating the pollution increase their profits.
The Federal government should do more, not less, to protect clean air. Protecting our air is a moral imperative, not protecting polluter interests. I urge the EPA to stay true to its mission of protecting human health and the environment. Do not finalize this dangerous rollback of the Mercury Pollution Standard.”
Warbler’s Wisdom has been a weekly column this summer by Jocelyn Hartley, our Creation and Justice Fellow from Disciples Home Mission and Green Chalice.