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Clear Skies
2003-2004
President Bush Offers 'Cap and Trade' Reg
On Dec 4 2003 EPA Administrator Michael O. Leavitt announced the Interstate Air Quality Rule, which is intended to help improve air quality and health nationwide. The IAQ Rule is a market-driven "Cap and Trade" air pollution control program that is similar to the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments Acid Rain Program.
The "Cap" would set nationwide limits on power plant missions of two common pollutants, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. The "Trade" portion of the program would allow utilities that can reduce pollution below target levels to sell the excess reductions as pollution credits. Companies that cannot meet the goals would be allowed to comply by buying these credits, even if they do not actually reduce pollutants.
AAEA supports the concept of "Cap and Trade." Thus, we support the proposed regulation. However, we believe that passage of the Clear Skies Initiative is a better way to accomplish the goals of the regulations. The regulations will lead to litigation from opponents and might not provide the certainty utilities need to make costly investments in scrubbers. Opponents do not believe the plan will stop air pollution from the coal-burning power plants in the Midwest. Partisans will oppose any innovative proposals from this administration, even if the current law is failing to achieve additional reductions in air pollution.
EPA considers the Interstate Air Quality Rule to be a solution to tough new health standards for smog-forming ozone, scheduled to be phased in over the next two decades. In fact, EPA announced its program on the same day it informed 534 jurisdictions that they could potentially be in violation of new air pollution regulations. Thirty two states have until April 2007 to meet the new standards.
EPA wants to cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 70 percent by 2015 and would cut nitrogen oxide by 40 percent. Sulfur dioxide is also a component of acid rain, while nitrogen oxide contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog - a powerful respiratory irritant. Both can cause breathing problems.
'Clear Skies' White House Announcement
AAEA and EPA Support Clean Air Initiative
McDonald & Horinko At White House East Garden
President Bush demonstrated that he is serious about passing the Clear Skies Initiative this year by gathering supporters of the legislation at the White House East Garden. Representatives from the administration, industry and the environmental community showed enthusiastic support for the Clear Skies Act of 2003. Senator James M. Inhofe, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, was delighted to get this attention for the bill from the White House. Mark up is currently pending in the Senate and the House should consider the legislation this year. The announcement was also attended by Acting EPA Administrator Marianne L. Horinko.
Although many traditional environmental organizations oppose the initiative, AAEA believes it is the best proposal to reduce air pollution from power plants and other industrial emitters. The New Source Review (NSR) of the Clean Air Act ultimately produced more litigation than scrubbers. The rule changes will lead to even more litigation over this ineffective regulation. Hopefully, utilities will enthusiastically implement the Clear Skies Initiative and millions of Americans will breathe cleaner air.
The special announcement by President Bush was made on a beautiful, clear day with a magnificent view of the White House South Lawn. Hopefully, from the standpoint of reducing emissions from major stationary sources of air pollution, the Clear Skies Iniitiative will reproduce such days throughout the year. AAEA will continue to aggressively work for cleaner air in the United States.
AAEA Organization Goals:
- Protect the environment.
- Promote the efficient use of natural resources.
- Enhance human, animal and plant ecologies.
- Increase African American participation in the environmental movement.
- Deliver information and services directly into the black community.
- Clean up neighborhoods by implementing toxics education, energy, water and clean air programs.
- Include an African American point of view in environmental policy decision-making.
- Resolve environmental racism and injustice issues through the application of practical environmental solutions.
