Major speeches and testimony delivered by U.S. EPA Administrators 2001 - 2004
04/01/2004
Subject:
"Clean Air Rules of 2004 Oral Testimony": Testimony as prepared for delivery before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety
- Chairman Voinovich and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to discuss our progress in implementing the Clean Air Act’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone and fine particles (PM2.5) pollution.
- This month marks yet another Earth Day and the nation has taken on an environmental maturity that did not exist in 1970.
- Our new environmental maturity and the emergence of a global economy may have been the story of the last 30 years; how we manage their coexistence will define the next 30.
- I want to outline a national strategy, one that President Bush is leading, to clean up the nation’s air, a suite of rules --- the Clean Air Rules of 2004.
- I will specifically address the Clean Air Ozone Rules and the Clean Air Fine Particles Rules and you will find more detailed information on these in my written testimony.
- These Clean Air Rules are strong medicine, but they are part of the prescription for optimizing the cure (clean air attainment), while minimizing the side effects (additional local controls).
- These new standards and the Clean Air Rules that we are putting in place to implement them are about healthy air. People living in areas not meeting the standards breathe unhealthy air and many will not live as long or as well unless it is corrected. We want to think in terms of prolonging healthy, productive lives, not of dying sooner.
- Implementation of the more protective Clean Air standards is of great importance to this Administration and the American people.
- EPA has worked for months with Governors/State officials, members of Congress and community leaders throughout the country who want to assure that their areas are treated fairly and I understand their concern.
- As EPA Administrator I have come to understand some of the myths and facts about being designated “nonattainment” --- some of you may share those same myths:
- 1. Myth: A nonattainment designation will significantly limit growth
Fact: History shows that vigorous economic growth in many nonattainment areas across the country has outpaced other cities (example Atlanta). Nonattainment emissions controls are designed to help areas improve air quality even as they grow. Areas are able to improve their air quality without inhibiting economic growth.
- 2. Myth: Nonattainment areas have their highway funds cut off or are otherwise under sanctions.
Fact: Loss of highway funding or sanctions does NOT apply unless a state fails to develop or implement a plan to improve air quality. Historically these are very rare actions.
- On April 15 of this year, I am required under the Clean Air Act to tell state and local governments, and the citizens across the country whether their air quality does or does not meet Clean Air health-based ozone standards.
- Later this year, I will do the same for those areas that do and do not meet Clean Air health-based fine particle standards.
- At the same time we tell them whether or not they live in Clean Air areas or less healthy areas, we will tell them what we are doing to help meet the standards and improve their air quality.
- This will be one of the most productive periods in the history of Clean Air and will go a long way to helping communities reach attainment with the Clean Air standards --- in fact in many cases, it goes all the way.
- The suite of Clean Air Rules of 2004 that are key to the President’s national strategy to accelerate the progress of clean air for all Americans include:
- the Clean Air Ozone Rules (will announce April 15)
- the Clean Air Fine Particle Rules (will announce designations by end of year)
- the Clean Air Interstate Rule (already proposed and will finalize by end of year; addresses NOx and SOx)
- the Clean Air Mercury Rule (already proposed and will complete by end of year)
- the Clean Air Non-Road Diesel Rule (soon to be announced)
- These Clean Air Rules, combined with other existing programs, including the Tier 2 clean vehicles and gasoline sulfur standards for cars and light trucks, the NOx SIP Call Rule to reduce interstate ozone, and the Clean Diesel Program for new trucks and buses, will bring well over half of counties now monitoring nonattainment into attainment with the fine particle and ozone standards.
- Let me illustrate that point with two maps. The first map shows those counties in the U.S. monitoring nonattainment for the fine particle standards, the ozone standards or both.
- The second map shows most counties with Clean Air and only a few of the counties that are projected to be out of attainment with the standards in 2015, as a result of the many federal programs to control air pollution.
- Given how early we are in the planning and implementation process set forth by the Clean Air Act, it is unprecedented that we have a Clean Air strategy to bring such a high percentage of counties into attainment with these two standards.
- By telling the states now how much of the air quality problem we are solving through federal measures, we allow states to focus their resources on addressing the smaller remaining air quality problems.
- Two years ago, this Administration proposed the Clear Skies Act to reduce power plant pollution. We still think that is the best way to control power plant emissions. Since it has not been enacted, however, we are moving forward to cut emissions administratively.
- One of my early actions as Administrator was to propose the Clean Air Interstate Rule, also called the Interstate Air Quality Rule (IAQR) because it addresses the long distance transport of air pollutants across state borders. This proposal would cut power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by 70% (from 2000 levels).
- I intend to finalize the Clean Air Interstate Rule this year so that states will know what emission reductions they can count on when they develop their attainment plans.
- Another high priority for me is the Clean Air Non-Road Diesel Rule, which EPA proposed last year and will finalize in the near future. This would adopt new tighter emission standards and low sulfur fuel for non-road diesel engines used in construction, agricultural, and industrial operations.
- Annual benefits from just 2 of the Clean Air Rules, Interstate and Non-Road Diesel, alone are projected to total at least $127 billion per year and include:
18,200 premature mortalities avoided
1.95 million Lost work days avoided
390,000 Lost school days avoided
17,400 Hospital admissions avoided
13,000 Emergency room visits avoided and the list goes on…
- The benefits far outweigh the costs --- and we want to make certain that economic growth remains true. *(annual benefits currently based on 2020 for non-road and 2015 for Interstate)
- Although EPA’s diesel standards for non-road equipment, will reduce pollution from new vehicles and equipment, they do not require reductions from existing diesel engines. Given the long life span and high level of emissions from existing diesel engines, significant air quality benefits are possible by reducing these emissions.
- EPA is working with state and local governments and our industry partners on creative, voluntary programs to reduce emissions from existing engines. For example, the President has requested $65 million in FY2005 funding for the Clean School Bus USA program, which would assist school districts across the country in replacing or retrofitting school buses. I appreciate that several of you have already expressed your support for that program.
- Chairman Voinovich and Members of the Subcommittee, our many years of working to clean up the air are paying off – but the environmental progress of the last 30 years has been a harvest of low hanging fruit. Each increment of progress gets harder.
- I have defined a plan to increase our velocity in achieving Clean Air. There is much left to do.
- The many programs I have discussed, and others detailed in my written testimony, demonstrate clearly that the American people can have clean air while enjoying continuing economic prosperity.
- We can do so through the state-federal partnership embodied in the Clear Air Act, a partnership that I believe will make the coming years extraordinarily productive for environmental protection.
- The Clean Air Rules of 2004 will build on the remarkable air quality improvement of the last 30 years and do it in record time.
- I encourage you to join us in this record-breaking pace of Clean Air Rules and also pass the President’s Clear Skies legislation.
- Thank you and I would be pleased to answer any questions the Subcommittee may have.