FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Michelle Blundell, 202-478-6176
Allison MacMunn, American Lung Association, 312-801-7628
Megan Lowry, APHA, 312-801-7628
Washington, D.C., July 8, 2019 – Today, the American Lung Association and the American Public Health Association, represented by attorneys from the Clean Air Task Force, are filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s repeal of the Clean Power Plan – the first-ever federal policy to reduce harmful carbon pollution from power plants – and the move to replace it with the dangerous “Affordable Clean Energy” rule. Regarding this legal action, the American Lung Association, the American Public Health Association, and the Clean Air Task Force issued the following statement:
“In repealing the Clean Power Plan and adopting the ACE rule, EPA abdicates its legal duties and obligations to protect public health under the Clean Air Act, which is why we are challenging these actions.
“As affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, EPA has legal authority and obligation under the Clean Air Act to protect and preserve public health and welfare, including by regulating carbon dioxide pollution from coal-fired power plants. However, it is simply not lawful for EPA to use its legal authority in ways that will increase dangerous air pollutants and harm the health of Americans.
“The Clean Air Act directs and authorizes EPA to take steps to reduce air pollution to protect public health and the environment. As 74 health and medical organizations (including the American Lung Association, American Public Health Association) emphasized recently, climate change is a health emergency, already taking a toll on the health of millions of people across the United States. From increased heat, more frequent and intense wildfires, extreme storms and floods to the increased formation of ozone pollution and the spread of water-borne and vector-borne diseases like Lyme Disease, climate change is already harming the health of people in the United States.
“In addition to increasing the carbon dioxide pollution that fuels climate change, independent research from 2019 predicts that the ACE rule will result in some fossil fuel plants running more often and delaying their retirement, which would mean increased emissions of dangerous pollution as compared to the Clean Power Plan, and even as compared to no rule at all.
“EPA’s decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan and replace it with the ACE rule continues to disregard the vast health consequences of climate change and puts more lives at risk. Our organizations remain committed to fight to protect public health in the United States from EPA’s continued efforts to roll back these protections.”
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About the American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.
About the Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force is a nonprofit environmental organization of scientists, engineers, MBAs, policy experts, lawyers and communications professionals in offices across the U.S. We work to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid global development and deployment of emerging and proven low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies through research and analysis, public legal advocacy, promoting thought leadership and partnership with the private sector. For more information, please visit www.catf.us.