Senators Help Clean Air in National Parks: New Clean Air Planning Act Introduced
|
PRESS RELEASE
|
|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | May 3, 2006 |
| Contact: |
Mark Wenzler, NPCA, 202-454-3335, 202-255-9013 (cell) |
Senators Help Clean Air in National Parks: New Clean Air Planning Act Introduced
A statement by NPCA Clean Air Director Mark Wenzler
U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) introduced today the Clean Air Planning Act of 2006, which would reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury emissions from power plants. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) also released today its letter of support for the legislation, which, if passed, would provide healthier air to millions of Americans and help to restore clean air to our national parks.
A statement by NPCA Clean Air Director Mark Wenzler follows:
"Thirty years ago Congress promised that America's national parks and wilderness areas would have the cleanest air in the country. However, today, many park skies are clouded by haze, plants in national parks are weakened from acid rain, and air-borne mercury is finding its way into fish and the endangered animals in national parks that consume them.
"The Clean Air Planning Act helps to address these challenges and fulfill the promise of clean and healthy air in our national parks. Building upon the existing protections of the Clean Air Act, the bill goes farther than any measure yet passed by Congress to reduce the air pollution that harms America's national parks—cleaning up sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury emissions from the oldest and most polluting coal-fired power plants, which is key to restoring clean air and healthy habitats in our national parks and for the millions of Americans who treasure them.
"We thank Senators Carper, Alexander and Chafee for introducing legislation that helps provide air that is healthy for people and America's national parks."
