Clean Air Council Stands Against Senator Pat Toomey and his Support of New EPA Head Scott Pruitt
Toomey’s recent senate resolution to increase smog in Pennsylvania is a mirror image of Pruitt’s lawsuit against EPA.
When: Thursday, February 23, 2017, 11AM-1PM
Where: Senator Pat Toomey’s Philadelphia Office, 1628 John F Kennedy Blvd
What: Staff will distribute gas masks to prepare Philly for increased smog (Photo credit: Alexandra Erin, Katie Edwards)
Last week, Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey voted to confirm Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Philadelphia will likely break its 1925 February heat record this month.
“EPA head Scott Pruitt’s allegiance to the fossil fuel industry is clear — he values corporate profit over air quality,” says Clean Air Council Executive Director Joe Minott. “Philadelphia will continue to prepare for the worst effects of climate change and attempt to increase efficiency while reducing smog and greenhouse gas pollution. Clean Air Council is prepared to accept new responsibilities on the frontlines of public health protection in the absence of an EPA operating in good faith.”
In addition to approving Pruitt, Senator Toomey recently proposed a resolution that would allow Pennsylvania to increase smog pollution, voiding the EPA’s 2008 ambient air quality ozone standard of 75 parts per billion. Connecticut, Maryland and Delaware are all currently suing Pennsylvania because the Keystone State’s drifting power plant pollution has caused ambient ozone levels in those states (as well as Pennsylvania) to be unhealthy. The resolution has no cosponsors.
Senator Toomey’s resolution is eerily similar to a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma’s largest electric utility, Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E), as well as a previous lawsuit filed by Pruitt and OG&E. Toomey and Pruitt both object to the legal requirement, under the Clean Air Act, of updating ambient air quality standards. In its lawsuit, OG&E incorrectly claims that updating the now 20-year-old 1997 ozone standard is “not a logical outgrowth of the proposed rule.”
CONTACT: Russell Zerbo, Advocacy Coordinator, rzerbo@cleanair.org 215-567-4004 ext. 130
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The Clean Air Council is a member- supported, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting everyone’s right to breathe clean air. The Council is headquartered in Philadelphia and works through public education, community organizing, advocacy, and government oversight to ensure enforcement of environmental laws. For more information, please visit www.cleanair.org.
