http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/groups-urge-epa-to-strengthen-smog-standards Atlanta, GA—At http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/groups-urge-epa-to-strengthen-smog-standards Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/bill-to-clean-up-dirty-diesel-pollution-passes-key-committee Boston, MA- Senate bill 502, a http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/bill-to-clean-up-dirty-diesel-pollution-passes-key-committee Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/scientists-health-professionals-residents-and-elected-officials-urge-epa-to-strengthen-health-standards-for-deadly-ozone-smog-pollution-protect-public-health Los Angeles, CA—At a public hearing in Los Angeles today, scientists, public health http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/scientists-health-professionals-residents-and-elected-officials-urge-epa-to-strengthen-health-standards-for-deadly-ozone-smog-pollution-protect-public-health Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-report-shows-need-to-reduce-particulate-matter-pollution-from-power-plants  Read the Report.Baltimore – Maryland http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-report-shows-need-to-reduce-particulate-matter-pollution-from-power-plants Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/proposed-mercury-rules-dont-go-far-enough-to-protect-public-health Public health, environmental, http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/proposed-mercury-rules-dont-go-far-enough-to-protect-public-health Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/state-issues-permit-for-giant-coal-plant  The state issued a final permit today for a 1200 MW coal plant in http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/state-issues-permit-for-giant-coal-plant Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/marylands-general-assembly-approves-clean-cars-act Annapolis – The Maryland House of Delegates took the final vote today to http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/marylands-general-assembly-approves-clean-cars-act Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/supreme-court-blocks-la-from-cleaning-up-dirty-cars http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/supreme-court-blocks-la-from-cleaning-up-dirty-cars Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/environmental-groups-sue-shell-oil-for-clean-air-act-violations-at-deer-park-refinery-and-chemical-plant Groups Allege Millions of Pounds of Illegal Pollution Over Five-Year Period Benzene, Butadiene, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide Among Pollutants at Issue in Case HOUSTON – Sierra Club and Environment Texas filed a lawsuit today in federal district court against Shell Oil Company and several affiliates. The suit – the first case in Texas in which citizen groups are suing to stop illegal air emissions arising from so-called “upset” events – claims that Shell has repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act at its Deer Park, Texas, oil refinery and chemical plant, resulting in the release of millions of pounds of excess air pollutants over the past five years, including toxic chemicals such as benzene and 1,3-butadiene. Shell’s Deer Park facility is a 1,500-acre complex located on the Houston Ship Channel in Harris County, about 20 miles east of downtown Houston. It is the nation’s eighth-largest oil refinery and one of the world’s largest producers of petrochemicals. The facility is also the second largest source of air pollution in Harris County, which ranks among the worst in the nation in several measures of air quality. “I live and work downwind from Shell, in Channelview. My family and my employees simply can’t afford to breathe in any more air pollution,” said Sierra Club member and small business owner Karla Land. “We have laws to protect air quality for a reason. Shell is breaking those laws and they need to be made to stop.” “On average of more than once a week for at least the past five years, Shell has reported that it violated its own permit limits by spewing a wide range of harmful pollutants into the air around the Deer Park plant,” said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment Texas. “Because the state of Texas and the U.S. EPA have both failed to put a stop to these blatant violations, ordinary citizens are stepping up to enforce the law themselves.” The Clean Air Act contains a “citizen suit” provision that allows private citizens affected by violations of the law to bring an enforcement suit in federal court if state and federal regulators do not. Shell’s permits contain both hourly and yearly limits on the amounts of pollutants it can emit into the atmosphere. The lawsuit alleges that equipment breakdowns, malfunctions, and other non-routine incidents at the Deer Park complex result in the release of millions of pounds of pollutants into the surrounding air, frequently in violation of legal limits. A single such “upset” or “emission event” can result in the release of thousands of pounds of air pollutants in a matter of minutes or hours. Some emission events at Shell Deer Park have involved pollutant releases in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. According to the groups’ analysis of Shell’s own reports to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, air pollutants released during upsets at Deer Park since 2003 include: · Over 2 million pounds of sulfur dioxide; · Over 1 million pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); · Over 600,000 pounds of carbon monoxide; · Over 250,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides; · Over 90,000 pounds of benzene and 60,000 pounds of 1,3-butadiene. Nitrogen oxides and VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which, according to EPA, can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. Air quality in Harris County regularly violates standards for ground-level ozone set by EPA. Sulfur dioxide contributes to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly, and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases. Sulfur dioxide also contributes to the formation of acid rain. Benzene and 1,3-butadiene are carcinogens. The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring Shell to end its Clean Air Act violations. In addition, Shell faces civil penalties of up to $32,500 per day for each violation of the Clean Air Act. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell, ranked by Fortune as the third largest company in the world. http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/environmental-groups-sue-shell-oil-for-clean-air-act-violations-at-deer-park-refinery-and-chemical-plant Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:53:15 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/environment-america-denounces-epas-smog-and-clean-air-act-announcements Washington, DC—The Bush EPA this evening announced a flawed new national air quality standard for ozone “smog” and called for sweeping changes to the Clean Air Act that threaten to fundamentally weaken one of the nation’s most important environmental laws, according to Environment America. “Ozone can harm even the healthiest lungs, but today’s decision will leave many Americas at risk of asthma attacks and other health problems from breathing dirty air,” said Emily Figdor, Clean Air Advocate for Environment America. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), a group of expert outside scientists who advise the EPA Administrator on air quality standards, unanimously recommended that EPA issue an ozone standard no greater than 0.070 parts per million (ppm), but EPA Administrator Johnson this evening announced a new standard of 0.075 ppm. The EPA’s own risk estimates show that a standard of 0.075 ppm will result in hundreds of more deaths and thousands of more visits to emergency rooms compared with a standard of 0.070 ppm. No previous administration has ever rejected the CASAC’s scientific advice. The Bush EPA also ignored the CASAC’s advice last year in setting a new standard for fine particle “soot” pollution. In addition, under the guise of “modernizing” the Clean Air Act, the EPA Administrator called for fundamental changes to the law, including requiring implementation costs to be considered in setting air quality standards and allowing states and local areas to ignore air pollution problems. The Clean Air Act requires air quality standards to be set based solely on a pollutant’s impacts on public health, a matter of science—not consideration of the potential costs of implementation of the standard. “The Bush EPA has been doing industry’s bidding for seven years, but this takes the cake. These changes would strike at the heart of the Clean Air Act and could take us back decades in protecting Americans from air pollution,” said Figdor. Ozone is a powerful pollutant that can burn our lungs and airways, causing health effects ranging from coughing and wheezing to asthma attacks and even premature death. Children, senior citizens, and people with lung disease are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of ozone. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must set air quality standards at levels that protect public health, including sensitive populations, with an adequate margin of safety. Many industries have been lobbying furiously in recent weeks for a weak ozone standard and have long sought major changes to the Clean Air Act. http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/environment-america-denounces-epas-smog-and-clean-air-act-announcements Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:54:09 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/study-shows-global-warming-will-lead-to-tougher-fight-against-smog-in-central-valley Fresno is poised to face http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/study-shows-global-warming-will-lead-to-tougher-fight-against-smog-in-central-valley Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:12:06 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/one-of-nations-largest-air-polluters-agrees-to-cleanup-its-act-in-major-court-settlement Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. Washington, DC—U.S. PIRG and http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/one-of-nations-largest-air-polluters-agrees-to-cleanup-its-act-in-major-court-settlement Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/coal-ash-found-in-dust-at-homes-near-gambrills-dump New http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/coal-ash-found-in-dust-at-homes-near-gambrills-dump Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:58:21 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/epa-proposes-promising-standards-to-reduce-diesel-pollution Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. Washington, DC—The U.S. Environmental Protection http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/epa-proposes-promising-standards-to-reduce-diesel-pollution Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-air-quality-standards-reject-science-leave-millions-at-risk Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. WASHINGTON, http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-air-quality-standards-reject-science-leave-millions-at-risk Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/senate-environment-committee-narrowly-approves-clean-air-foe-as-top-epa-air-official Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. WASHINGTON, http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/senate-environment-committee-narrowly-approves-clean-air-foe-as-top-epa-air-official Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/court-rejects-bush-administration-plan-to-gut-key-clean-air-act-safeguard Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. Ruling Blocks Thousands of Facilities from Increasing Pollution http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/court-rejects-bush-administration-plan-to-gut-key-clean-air-act-safeguard Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-nrc-report-affirms-the-role-of-the-states-in-setting-clean-air-standards Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. WASHINGTON, http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-nrc-report-affirms-the-role-of-the-states-in-setting-clean-air-standards Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-report-finds-one-third-of-all-americans-threatened-by-soot-pollution Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. Air Pollution Bill Could Make Situation Even Worse http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-report-finds-one-third-of-all-americans-threatened-by-soot-pollution Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/public-health-prevails-in-first-ever-vote-on-clear-skies-bill Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. Sweetheart Deal For Polluters Defeated In Committee http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/public-health-prevails-in-first-ever-vote-on-clear-skies-bill Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/epa-cracks-down-on-diesel-pollution-garners-rare-applause-from-public-interest-groups Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG’s environmental work. WASHINGTON, DC—The http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/epa-cracks-down-on-diesel-pollution-garners-rare-applause-from-public-interest-groups Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-report-increased-air-pollution-exposure-during-daily-commutes http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/new-report-increased-air-pollution-exposure-during-daily-commutes Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/txu39s-plan-to-drop-8-plants-great-news-but-11-plants-still-in-works-for-texas http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/txu39s-plan-to-drop-8-plants-great-news-but-11-plants-still-in-works-for-texas Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/every-maryland-county-exceeds-cancer-risk-threshold-from-vehicle-pollution http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/every-maryland-county-exceeds-cancer-risk-threshold-from-vehicle-pollution Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/groups-oppose-huge-coal-plant-near-everglades Today, Florida http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/groups-oppose-huge-coal-plant-near-everglades Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/state-board-adopts-historic-cuts-in-mercury-pollution  CHICAGO—In a http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/state-board-adopts-historic-cuts-in-mercury-pollution Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/-clean-car-standards-clear-final-regulatory-hurdle http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/-clean-car-standards-clear-final-regulatory-hurdle Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-case-against-duke-energy   Court’s Decision Could Cut Smokestack Pollution Across Eastern U.S. http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-case-against-duke-energy Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/pennsylvania-moves-closer-to-adopting-mercury-pollution-standards-for-power-plants  HARRISBURG—The http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/pennsylvania-moves-closer-to-adopting-mercury-pollution-standards-for-power-plants Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/legislators-vote-to-derail-pennsylvania-clean-vehicles-program  HARRISBURG—In http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/legislators-vote-to-derail-pennsylvania-clean-vehicles-program Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/alternatives-to-coal-plants-tops-environmentalists39-legislative-agenda A coalition of environmental, religious, http://www.environmentamerica.org/news-releases/clean-air/clean-air2/alternatives-to-coal-plants-tops-environmentalists39-legislative-agenda Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:49:51 -0500