CLEAN AIR TRUST REACTS TO EPA MEDIA STUNT
IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
(Washington, D.C. July 1, 2002) - The non-profit Clean Air Trust had the following reaction to today's media stunt by EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman:
"Ten months ago, EPA's professional staff concluded that `business as usual' -- enforcement of the Clean Air Act -- would mean less pollution throughout the nation, including the Southeast, than would replacing the law with an Enron-style emission-trading scheme," noted , executive director of the Clean Air Trust.
"Now, Whitman is trying to argue the opposite. In what can only be assumed as an effort appease financial contributors from the coal and electric power industries, EPA has, in effect, cooked the books to make the Bush Administration's plan seem more favorable. Perhaps EPA has hired some of those Arthur Andersen accountants to help cook the books," said O'Donnell.
He noted that the Bush Administration wants to weaken and even eliminate new source review.
"This is the core EPA rule that protects national parks such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park," where Whitman appeared today, said O'Donnell. "Astonishingly, EPA wants to gut this clean air program, which helps protect visibility and prevent significant air quality degradation in the parks."
"Whitman recently admitted that she hadn't read a federal report -- posted on EPA's Web site and written by agencies, including EPA -- that pointed out human activities are causing global warming," O'Donnell said.
"Perhaps the Clean Air Act and its core rules are something else Whitman hasn't read," said O'Donnell.
As always, please don't hesitate to call (202) 785-9625 if you'd like to discuss these or related issues.