Clean Air

The League of Women Voters has long had as one of its key issues to protect the health and well-being of the citizens.  The Clean Air Act of 1972 has accomplished great things through the administration of the Environmental Protection Agency.  The levels of smog have fallen steadily since 1972.  However, a few key items remain.  The LWV has joined a coalition of not for profit groups to let legislators and the administration know that citizens support strong regulations on air quality.  The members of the coalition are listed below:

Clean Air Task Force
Clean Water Action
Earthjustice
Environment America
Environmental Defense Fund
Greenpeace USA
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters of the United States
Natural Resources Defense Council
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Republicans for Environmental Protection
Sierra Club
Union of Concerned Scientists

The EPA is currently addressing two of these: mercury emissions and ozone emissions.

In the spring the EPA issued new potential emission levels for mercury.  Mercury is largely a by product of burning coal to generate electric power.  Mercury is a neurotoxin that is particularly toxic to the brains of children.  The coalition has garnered 800,000 signatures in favor of tighter regulations to present to the EPA.  Click here to read more about mercury and this campaign: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/powerplanttoxics/

The EPA is also proposing a tightening of the allowable limits of ozone in the lower atmosphere.  Ozone is a toxic form of oxygen that is particularly harmful to persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma.  Many scientists and medical professionals recommedn an allowable level lower than the current 70 ppb.  Click here to read more about ozone emissions: Ozone