Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
urges EPA to reconsider New Source Review Changes
June 13, 2002
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.