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Campaign:

Cleaning Up the Nation's Biggest Mercury Polluters

Audio:

Earthjustice attorney Jennifer Kefer on haze

Earthjustice attorney Jim Pew on air pollution from snowmobiles

Earthjustice attorney Jim Pew on PVC plant emissions

Earthjustice attorney Jim Pew on smelter emissions

Marty Hayden Discusses "Midnight Regulations"

Buck in Brief:

A Promising Step in Florida (06/22/07)

Another Kind of Surge (05/11/07)

Victory Roundup (04/17/07)

Breathing Less Poison (09/18/06)

Clearing the Air, One Day at a Time (03/15/06)

Feature:

Protect Your Community From Toxic Waste: Help Undo Bush-Era Polluter Loophole

EPA Moves to Reduce Ship Pollution

TXI

Eleven Days That Shook the World (or the Bush Admininstration, At Any Rate)

Air Toxics

Tom's Turn:

Breathing Carbon (07/19/07)

Motions at 2,000 Miles: Judges at Odds Over Snowmobile Phase-Out (02/15/04)

Air regulations work. Imagine that. (10/15/03)

Victories:

Coal Plant Rejected Amid Kansas Whirlwind

Florida Coal Plan Is Nixed

Smog Slapdown Turndown Is Upheld

Court Nixes EPA Incinerator Exemption

Supreme Court Rules Against Administration in Warming Case

Video:

Field Burning in Idaho - A Public Health Disaster

Issues

Air contains elements that are vital to life on Earth. We breathe air in, absorb some of the oxygen, and then breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants breathe in carbon dioxide, absorb it to build their tissue, and breathe out oxygen. When contaminants enter the picture, however, nature's cycle is disrupted and public health and agriculture can be harmed.

Our Stories
- Air Pollution Starts a Movement
  California prides itself on being the nation’s breadbasket, the supplier of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other agricultural products to the country and the world. But the San Joaquin Valley, where many of these crops are grown, has the worst air pollution of any comparable area in the country. Western Press Secretary Brian Smith recounts how a unique coalition came together to fight for cleaner air.
  Learn more about the Central Valley struggle

Recent Victories
- Coal Plant Rejected Amid Kansas Whirlwind
  State authorities in Kansas reject a permit for two coal-fired power plants which would have polluted the state while exporting the power.
  
  Florida Coal Plan Is Nixed
  The Florida Public Service Commission refuses to approve a permit for a huge new coal-fired power plant near the Everglades.
  
  Smog Slapdown Turndown Is Upheld
  An industry attempt to overturn tough ozone regulations is rejected by the DC Court of Appeals.
  
  Court Nixes EPA Incinerator Exemption
  A federal judge rules that an attempt to classify some incinerators as boilers is illegal.
  
  Supreme Court Rules Against Administration in Warming Case
  The high court says that carbon dioxide is a pollutant and that EPA has authority to regulate tailpipe emissions.
  
  Protecting People from Brick Kiln Emissions
  Brick and clay manufacturers produce some of the worst air pollution in our nation. Now the EPA must follow the law and make this industry clean up its act.
  
  Court Agrees that EPA New Source Review Rule Violates Clean Air Act
  Decision ensures dirty power plants and other facilities must update old equipment with cleaner technologies
  
  New York Power Plants Must Reduce Pollution
  Federal court decision could also lead to stronger protections against air pollution from power plants nationwide
  
  Full Environmental Review Ordered for Mexican Power Imports
  Placing energy plants across the border with Mexico, to serve the US electricity grid, does not waive U.S. clean air requirements
  
  NRC To Review Honolulu Irradiator
  Environmental and disaster review of airport irradiator project necessary, NRC licensing board agrees
  
  Air Pollution Starts a Movement
  California prides itself on being the nation’s breadbasket, the supplier of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other agricultural products to the country and the world. But the San Joaquin Valley, where many of these crops are grown, has the worst air pollution of any comparable area in the country. Western Press Secretary Brian Smith recounts how a unique coalition came together to fight for cleaner air.
  
  Adventures in Breathing
  David Baron is an attorney in Washington, DC, who spends much of his time battling to force the federal government to obey laws enacted to clean up (and keep clean) the air and water we all depend on.
  
  Imperial Valley to Get Stronger Clean Air Protections
  EPA will have to reclassify the air pollution status of the Imperial Valley as a result of Supreme Court decision.
  
  Yellowstone and Grand Teton to be Protected From Snowmobiles
  Earthjustice helps protect valuable and fragile ecosystems from the noise and noxious emissions of snowmobiles.
  
  Portland, Maine, to Get Cleaner Air
  Court settlement requires stronger anti-smog measures for Portland area.
  
  Earthjustice Defends Public's Access to Courts
  Earthjustice teamed with Alaskan Native groups and a political party to succesfully challenge a new Alaska state law that inhibited public access to courts.
  
  Delay in DC Smog Cleanup Ruled Illegal
  A DC court ruled for the third time in two years that the EPA illegally delayed adequate clean air requirements for the DC area.
  
  Air Standards for Trash Incinerators Ruled Inadequate
  EPA forced to rewrite air pollution standards for small municipal waste combustors.
  
  Clean Air Standards to be Strengthened Above National Parks
  Earthjustice forces EPA to end 13-year delay in raising clean air standards above nation's most prized national parks.
  
  Red Dog Mine Air Standards Upheld
  Big business can't buy the right to dirty air.
  
  Court Blocks Bush Administration From Applying Weakened New Source Review Rules
  The Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, has suspended a controversial EPA plan to weaken rules that apply to old power plants, refineries, and other facilities.
  
  Restricting Snowmobile Use in Yellowstone National Park
  Snowmobile use restricted in Yellowstone as damaging to park life and visitors.
  
  Diesel Irrigation Pumps in Central Valley to Be Regulated
  The Environmental Protection Agency, facing a lawsuit, agrees to regulate diesel pumps in the San Joaquin Valley.
  
  EPA to Begin Soot and Smog Reviews
  EPA agrees to review national standards for soot and smog pollution levels and strengthen them if appropriate.
  
  EPA Agrees to Crack Down on Ozone
  Settles lawsuit with environmental and public health groups. Standards five years overdue.
  
  California Agriculture Must Play by National Rules
  EPA agrees to end exemption for Big Ag
  
  San Joaquin Valley Air District Suit Settled
  Tentative agreement is reached to clean up polluted air in California's San Joaquin Valley.
  
  Clearing the Air in California's Central Valley
  Threatened with lawsuits from Earthjustice and clean-air advocates, in October 2001, the EPA redesignated the San Joaquin Valley a "severe" ozone region, a change in status from "serious" that reflects the smog problem as well as the lack of progress in solving it.
  
  Court Rejects Clean Air Label for Cincinnati
  The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the EPA's designation of Cincinnati as a clean-air city is premature and does not comply with the Clean Air Act.
  
  Supreme and Appellate Courts Reject Challenges to Air Rules
  In a major victory for clean air and public health, the Supreme Court rejected industry attacks on strengthened air quality standards for soot and smog.
  
  Clean Air Act Enforcement in the San Francisco Bay Area
  In March 2001, the EPA announced that it will require the Bay Area air quality agencies to develop a more aggressive clean air plan to comply with National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone.
  
  Big Ships' Air Pollution To Be Regulated by EPA
  In January 2001, a settlement was reached with the EPA to ensure that the agency sets standards for large cargo ships by 2003.
  
  Kaiparowits Power Plant
  The wild, remote, rugged, and beautiful Kaiparowits Plateau in southern Utah was slated to become an industrial zone with coal mine and power plant. Instead it is now a national monument.

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