Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org
MADISON, Wis. – Today, Donald Trump’s EPA announced 31 deadly and dangerous actions the agency is taking, including attacking safeguards to limit pollution from power plants and vehicles, methane and other deadly emissions from oil and gas sources, Mercury and Air Toxics standards, the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, wastewater regulations at coal plants, and many other critical protections for the environment and public health.
The standards that the EPA seeks to undermine are based on a strong scientific record and serve a number of public interests, including lowering the amount of deadly toxins fossil fuel-fired plants are allowed to release into the air and water, reducing pollution at steel and aluminum mills, and requiring fossil fuel companies to control pollution, like soot, ozone, and toxic and hazardous air pollutants at power plants.
If these rules are withdrawn, the American public will see devastating health impacts. EPA estimated that just one of the rules would prevent 4,500 premature deaths and save $46 billion in health costs by 2032. The health toll and cost of rescinding all the rules listed in the EPA’s announcement would be vastly higher.
In response, Elizabeth Ward, Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter Director, issued the following statement:
“It’s only day 52 of Trump’s second term– 52 days of straight attacks on vital components of American life. Today, Trump and Lee Zeldin have taken more steps to cozy up to fossil fuel corporations at the expense of real people’s safety. Our air and water should not be up for sale.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.