A new report demonstrates that two power plants operated by Entergy, the largest utility in Arkansas, are emitting enough pollution to make the unhealthy ozone smog problems worse in the St. Louis area. The report shows that smog-forming emissions from the Entergy White Bluff and Independence coal plants are elevating ozone levels by more than 4 times the amount public health agencies qualify as significant amount. Moreover, the plants are significantly impacting St. Louis ozone levels around 22 days per summer. These dangerous emissions of smog causing Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) could be reduced by 98% or more by installing Selective Catalytic Reduction, a widely used pollution control that has been around for more than 20 years.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a rich history of improving air and water quality throughout the US, but the Trump Administration has proposed slashing the Agency’s budget by 31 percent. These cuts would cause significant harm here in Nevada. This Friday, former EPA staff and clean air advocates will speak to defend the Agency, which was created 47 years ago on December 2nd, 1970, by Republican President Richard Nixon.
Today, as the State of California agreed to adhere to a specific timeline for Salton Sea restoration projects over the coming years, a coalition of environmental groups reminded policymakers that the clock is still ticking toward an ominous Dec. 31 deadline when required water deliveries will cease to be delivered to the Sea. Representatives of Sierra Club, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Pacific Institute emphasized that the state needs to begin work on the ground immediately to avert a public health disaster and destruction of vital habitat for migratory birds.
Yesterday, a federal appellate court ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had the legal authority to take action against DTE Energy after the company put public health at risk by failing to apply for a New Source Review (NSR) permit under the Clean Air Act.
WASHINGTON, DC - Tomorrow, Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order to begin the process of repealing several Obama-era actions tackling the climate crisis and protecting clean air and water, including steps to begin the process of dismantling the Clean Power Plan, roll back Oil and Gas New Source Performance Standards, rescind NEPA guidance that directs agencies to account for the climate crisis, and end efforts to reform the broken federal coal leasing program.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz and Sen. Mike Lee on Monday announced that they would use an extreme and obscure legislative maneuver called the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overrule common sense clean air protections for Utah national parks. Chaffetz began by introducing legislation in the House to repeal the Regional Haze Rule for Utah.
Philadelphia, P.A.--The state of Connecticut filed a notice of intent to sue due to the Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to address a Good Neighbor Petition filed by the state in July of 2016. Both Connecticut and Delaware filed Good Neighbor petitions stating that the Brunner Island power plant, located in Pennsylvania, is interfering with the state’s ability to comply with the ozone safeguards in the Clean Air Act. Smog-causing NOx pollution from this plant has not only been contaminating Pennsylvania’s air, but also Connecticut’s and Delaware’s.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 2017
CONTACT: Shawn Dhanak, 517-449-0402, shawn.dhanak@sierraclub.org
***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MARCH 3 AT 9 AM***
Southern California Air Regulators to Take Final Vote in Major Showdown Over Air Quality Plan
Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri issued a decision holding Ameren Missouri liable for violations of the Clean Air Act at its Rush Island coal plant in Jefferson County, Missouri.
Today, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) released a draft rule that would require Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) to dramatically reduce sulfur dioxide pollution from its Gerald Gentleman coal-fired power plant in Sutherland, Nebraska.
According to E&E News, those working for and supporting Oklahoma Attorney General and Trump nominee to be EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, have opened a new political operation while shuttering his leadership PAC and Super PAC.
Today, an environmental coalition including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Ecology Center, Electric Auto Association, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Fresh Energy, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, Ceres, the Greenlining Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Conservation Law Foundation submitted recommendations to Volkswagen (VW) on how to most effectively spend a portion of national settlement funds to increase green transportation: the “ZEV Investment Plan.”