Brian Willis: Brian Willis@sierraclub.org
Click Here to Download Lawsuit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Sierra Club and Earthjustice filed a lawsuit against EPA after former coal lobbyist and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler (for less than another 24 hours) declined to correct the legal limit for dangerous particulate matter pollution, also known as soot. Wheeler had instead decided to retain the flawed 2012 standard despite medical evidence that the 2012 standard fails to protect public health.
“Soot pollution is one of the most deadly types of air pollution and we will not sit idly by while a former coal lobbyist tries to sweep overwhelming medical evidence under the rug so that his former clients will not be held accountable for their pollution,” said Al Armendariz, Sierra Club’s Senior Director for Federal Campaigns. “Soot pollution disproportionately harms low income communities and communities of color; causing strokes, heart attacks, and even premature deaths. These communities need strong science based standards, not lip service from an outgoing EPA Administrator.”
The current 2012 standard is 12 micrograms per cubic meter and current levels of particulate matter pollution result in over 52,000 premature deaths a year. EPA’s own scientists estimate that correcting the standard to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or 25 percent stronger than the current limit, could prevent 12,500 premature deaths annually. An even stronger annual standard of 8 micrograms per cubic meter would save even more lives. But Wheeler ignored the recommendations from his own scientists, choosing instead to keep the erroneous EPA’s annual standard in place, allowing coal plants and other polluting facilities to foul our air up to the current unsafe level.
“Trump’s EPA Administrators have corrupted and rushed the scientific review process to conclude before Trump leaves office. We’ve gone to court on an accelerated timeline because fixing these life-saving standards is urgent,” said Seth Johnson, Earthjustice’s lead attorney on the case. “It’s well-established that particulate matter kills people, including at levels the current clean air standards permit. We look forward to the long-overdue change in Administration, and look forward to it following through swiftly and surely on the President-elect’s promise to embolden environmental justice and to hasten the clean energy transformation.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.