Brian Willis: 202.675.2386, Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sierra Club will submit approximately 70,000 comments from around the United States to the EPA today demanding former coal lobbyist and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler not move forward with his proposal to roll back the legal foundation for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Despite the fierce backlash from a variety of organizations, including medical associations, parents groups, and electric utilities, Wheeler introduced a proposal in 2018 that will force EPA to ignore many of the public health benefits of the MATS and abandon the common-sense rationale underlying EPA’s prior analysis justifying the standards under the Clean Air Act.
“Tens of thousands of people from across the United States are demanding that Andrew Wheeler choose the health of innocent people over the profits of the coal industry,” said Jonathan Levenshus, the Senior Campaign Representative for Federal Strategy at Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “It’s as ridiculous as it is heartless that Wheeler would attack these science-based, cost-effective standards that protect tens of thousands of people every year from the worst impacts of coal pollution.”
The MATS protect the public from mercury, arsenic, hydrochloric acid, and a variety of other air pollutants, which are especially harmful to vulnerable populations like infants and pregnant women. The EPA estimates that the MATS prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths and more than 100,000 asthma attacks and heart attacks each year. Utilities have been especially vocal against the proposal since they have already invested in pollution control equipment to comply with the lifesaving standards.
“ Keeping these common sense mercury pollution standards in place will protect the  health of our families. But instead of doing his job, Wheeler is turning his back on the very people he’s supposed to be looking out for.” Levenshus added. “The Sierra Club will continue fighting Wheeler’s plans to dismantle clean air standards, including this deadly proposal, for as long as it takes, and in every venue possible. If Wheeler will not stand with our children and most vulnerable communities, then we will.”
Since Wheeler announced his proposal, the Sierra Club has launched a five figure digital video ad buy, organized dozens of volunteers and activists to testify against it at EPA’s only public hearing, held visibility events targeting EPA and Wheeler, and will be submitting detailed legal and technical comments on Thursday.
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.