FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
The American Public Health Association strongly opposes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin’s decision to roll back critical EPA regulations meant to protect the public’s health from the dangerous and deadly effects of pollution. Air pollution, emissions and greenhouse gases are serious public health issues that will continue to harm communities across the U.S. if these lifesaving rules and regulations are eliminated or weakened. Repealing efforts that uphold EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment sends the message that polluters won’t be held accountable for endangering the lives of communities — especially those most vulnerable to air pollution and the health threats posed by climate change. The recently announced efforts to repeal the protections will only exacerbate the health threats we are already seeing from climate change, including increased heat waves, more air pollution and deadly wildfires. The proposal to eliminate EPA’s endangerment finding that greenhouse gases threaten human health undermines decades of science and rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Last year, APHA proudly supported EPA’s action to reduce dangerous pollution from the power sector, which included significant reductions in carbon pollution, mercury emissions and other hazardous pollutants from existing coal-fired and future natural gas-fired power plants. These rules are especially important, as they would bring environmental and climate justice to historically disadvantaged communities, which face the greatest exposure to pollution from the power sector. EPA estimates that in 2035, these rules will avoid 1,200 premature deaths; 870 hospital and emergency room visits; 1,900 cases of asthma onset; 360,000 cases of asthma symptoms; 48,000 school absence days; and 57,000 lost workdays and will achieve an estimated $370 billion in health and climate benefits between 2024-2047. Rules to reduce carbon emissions and mercury pollution from power plants must be preserved. Prioritizing health protections for babies, children, pregnant people and other groups at higher risk from toxic pollution and climate change is more important than corporate inconvenience.
Additionally, we are deeply discouraged that EPA will shutter all of its environmental justice offices which have been working to address environmental injustices and associated health inequities. The announced elimination of the environmental justice offices demonstrates the Trump administration’s disregard for communities that are most impacted by such proposed rollbacks of environmental regulations.
The American people deserve clean air and water. They deserve to live a full life at optimal health. We expect EPA to fight for this, but it is abdicating its authority and losing sight of its mission to protect the American public from environmental health threats and to hold industry responsible for meeting these standards.
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APHA is fighting back against threats to public health. See what we’re doing.
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The American Public Health Association serves as a convenor, catalyst and advocate to build capacity in the public health community. We speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. With our broad-based member community and 150-year perspective, we influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. We lead public awareness campaigns such as Get Ready and National Public Health Week. Together, we are creating optimal, equitable health and well-being for all. Learn more at www.apha.org.