MORE THAN ONE MILLION COMMENTS SUPPORTING CARBON POLLUTION LIMITS DELIVERED TO EPA

Washington, DC – May 17, 2012: Today, a broad coalition of groups supporting clean air safeguards announced that more than one million Americans have shown their support for new standards to curb industrial carbon pollution from power plants by submitting comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With over a month still remaining in the public comment period, this is already the largest number of public comments the EPA has ever received on any issue, and we anticipate many more comments to come in the weeks ahead.

The groups who collected comments, listed below, issued the following joint statement about the groundswell of support for the new EPA carbon pollution standard:

“Americans broadly support the EPA’s efforts to reduce dangerous air pollution that threatens the health and safety of our children, communities, and wildlife. More than one million Americans have now voiced their support for these important safeguards and called on the EPA and the White House to move forward with the strongest possible standard for new and existing power plants.

“Implementing this standard is critical to protect public health by decreasing the industrial carbon pollution that contributes to global warming. Global warming increases the formation of smog that triggers asthma attacks and permanently damages and reduces lung function.  Children, senior citizens and others with respiratory ailments are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of smog. In addition to the health impacts, carbon pollution and global warming will increase extreme weather related occurrences like floods, intense storms, drought, and heat waves.”

Center for American Progress Action Fund

Earthjustice Environment America Environmental Defense Fund Greenpeace

League of Conservation Voters

League of Women Voters of the United States

National Wildlife Federation Natural Resources Defense Council Sierra Club

Union of Concerned Scientists

US Climate Action Network

Contact: Keven Kennedy, 202.276.3159,  [email protected]