Protecting Communities From Air Pollution Act seen as a starting point for much-needed reform

Amended bill would define cumulative impacts and strengthen air quality enforcement process

Florida Rising respectfully submits this supplement to its civil rights complaint to provide additional relevant factual and legal background, clarify the scope of the complaint, and update
ECRCO on relevant developments since the filing of the complaint.

The Good Neighbor Rule will require 23 states to clean up their smog-forming emissions

Communities of color in California’s South Coast Air Basin are tired of holding their breath.

The rule requires states to reduce power plant pollution that contributes to unhealthy smog levels in downwind states

Community advocates demand meaningful action to address ozone pollution

EPA must do more as it reconsiders smog standards

Groups petition EPA to close Clean Air Act loopholes for startup, shutdown, malfunction events

Alexandra Schluntz, Attorney, Rocky Mountain Office, Earthjustice: “That first draft needs to be as strong as possible so that we can have a really robust public rulemaking process and get the public engaged, improve the SIP and, finally, get a strong final SIP approved by the Air Quality Control Commission.”

Asthma and lung disease are at stake

Over 80,000 people from all around the country submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the agency to issue a strong “Good Neighbor Rule” to reduce cross-state ozone pollution, or smog. Now EPA will consider the public comments it has received and issue a final version of the Good Neighbor Rule, likely in late 2022 or early 2023.

Health and environmental advocates represented by Earthjustice, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the agency’s failure to increase air pollution protections in over 30 cities that have dangerous levels of ozone smog. Communities at issue include major metropolitan areas like Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas, San Antonio and Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Washington, D.C.

Over 30 metropolitan areas have dangerous levels of ozone smog

“Good Neighbor” plan aims to reduce cross-state ozone pollution

Adrian Martinez, Attorney, California Office, Earthjustice: “For the past three years, we’ve seen relatively clean air data, aside from wildfires. What’s uncomfortable about this season’s pollution is that we can’t point to any one source.”

Adrian Martinez, Attorney, California Office, Earthjustice: “Whenever we see this spike in fine particulate pollution, people point to the weather. What some of that explanation misses is that impact of some of the urban areas where people live, and glosses over the specific solutions that could be pursued to curb emissions.”

Greg Muren, Attorney, California Regional Office, Earthjustice: “The Clean Air Act requires EPA to step in and develop a plan of its own that will actually work. EPA should follow through on its stated commitment to environmental justice and give residents the bare minimum that they deserve: air that is safe to breathe.”