by Jeff Seyler
posted
Aug 30, 2012
Dear Editor,
A recent court ruling marks a tremendous setback for the health of
residents across our region, especially kids and seniors. It puts
polluters before the public's health. And it allows out-of-state
industries to continue sending their toxic pollution across the
Northeast while our children and families pay the price. And that's
just not fair.
We are frustrated by yet another delay in setting science-based
pollution controls. Like the tobacco industry has done for years,
coal-fired power companies are using lawyers and lobbyists to block
meaningful progress.
Senators Leahy and Sanders joined our region's entire Senate
delegation, spanning from Maine through New York, voting to defend
this life-saving rule last year, proving once again that healthy
air is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue, but a common
sense issue of protecting public health and lowering health costs
for everyone. We all pay the price for every asthma attack, every
trip to the emergency room, and every heart attack that is brought
about by unhealthy air.
The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is particularly important to
Northeast states due to our geographic location and vulnerability
to air currents from the south and west. Toxic air pollutants can
lead to asthma attacks, lung and heart disease, cancer, and
premature death. No parent wants their child needlessly exposed to
this level of risk, especially when the pollution is produced ten
states away.
Our air quality affects our health, our ability to work, and our
opportunities for recreation. Unhealthy air also costs us millions
of dollars annually in avoidable health care costs to individuals,
government and businesses.
How much longer are we going to allow Midwestern polluters to
spew their toxic emissions and send them to the Northeast- costing
the polluters nothing while our families and businesses pay the
price?
Statement of Jeff Seyler, President & CEO American Lung
Association of the Northeast
Tagged:
Air Pollution, Letter to the Editor
