Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney urges EPA to reconsider New Source Review Changes

In a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, Representative McKinney expressed her concern regarding the loosening of restrictions of the Clean Air Act. This letter came after the EPA announced that they were going to allow power plants more latitude by rolling back previous environmental requirements.

"Air quality has been a paramount issue for the State of Georgia and has negatively impacted the lives of my constituents. For this reason, I do not believe that requiring modern anti-pollution devices for expanding power plant facilities is unfair to industry," said McKinney.

Congress established the New Source Review (NSR) program as part of the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments. The program was intended to address air quality problems associated with industrial plants. Recently, the EPA produced a study that suggested that the NSR has an adverse impact on investment in expanding because of the requirement to equip these plants with modern pollution devices.

"We must do everything possible to protect our air quality and hold accountable those that would rather concentrate on short term profit margins and disregard environmental protection. The Clean Air Act has been the best protection people have to defend themselves against air pollution. By rolling back those protections, you are potentially jeopardizing the well-being of millions of Americans," concluded McKinney.