Clean Power Plan Replacement Rule Weakens Climate Protections Allowing for More Air Pollution in National Parks

Washington, DC – Today, after more than ten months since the Trump administration repealed the Clean Power Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a draft replacement rule, the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, that prioritizes interests of the fossil fuel industry over the future of our public lands and public health.

The Clean Power Plan – unveiled by President Obama in 2015 – established the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants. Now, President Trump’s replacement rule will weaken efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, allowing more air pollution and threatening public health and the health of our parks, wildlife and the more than 330 million people that visit these places each year. With the administration’s attempts to diminish clean air rules, Americans would be faced with more premature deaths, asthma attacks and respiratory diseases.

Statement by Stephanie Kodish, Senior Director & Counsel of the Clean Air Program for National Parks Conservation Association:

“This Clean Power Plan replacement rule is another attempt by this administration to roll back protections for our public lands, air and water. The EPA is charged with protecting human health and the environment, which includes reducing greenhouse gas pollution. Unfortunately, this replacement rule does the exact opposite – allowing polluters to put public health, our national parks and park experiences for future generations at risk.

“Without strong EPA regulations to curb power plant pollution, our national parks and the millions of people that visit and live nearby will suffer. National parks like Glacier, Joshua Tree and Seguro risk losing their namesake features, while other forested parks like the Great Smokies and Yosemite will continue combating record wildfires in both intensity and scope. As temperatures continue to rise, extreme weather events will increasingly harm our national parks and wild lands, threatening the safety of their visitors, wildlife, cultural resources and surrounding communities.

“Climate change is the most significant challenge facing our environment today, and the effects will only grow worse the longer this administration delays action to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NPCA will continue to fight to make sure that EPA policies follow sound climate science. There is no time to spare when it comes to human health and the future of the planet and our public lands.”

The replacement rule sets into motion a 60-day comment period. More information about the plan can be found here.

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About National Parks Conservation Association Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its 1.3 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.