Dear
Stand Up for Clean Air! Demand Strong Soot Protections from the EPA |
2.1 million.
That's how many of us stood together in support of the EPA's proposed carbon pollution protections. How many is 2.1 million exactly? It's more people than could fit into every baseball stadium in America! Together, with a coalition of organizations and allies around the country, we've made history with an unprecedented show of support for clean air and healthy communities.
We never gave Big Coal an inch: from the record number of comments sent to the EPA, to the over 600 people packing hearings in D.C. and Chicago, our message in support of historic carbon pollution protections was heard loud and clear. It is an awesome thing when we unite!1
But corporate polluters never rest – so neither will we. The EPA has just proposed a new clean air safeguard -- for fine particulate matter, also called soot -- that will help millions of Americans breathe easier every year.2 And our opponents are already striking back.
Tell the EPA to stand firm and support a strong soot standard that saves lives!
Soot is a hidden danger: a microscopic mixture of smoke, liquid droplets and solid metal particles released by sources such as fossil fuel-burning power plants, petroleum refineries and vehicle exhaust. Because of its miniscule size, this pollutant can penetrate deep into our lungs and even bloodstreams causing premature death, heart attacks, and a wide range of other serious health problems.
Instead of cleaning up their act to protect our health, corporate polluters are yet again mobilizing their armies of well-paid lobbyists and preparing to quash this important protection. Before the soot standard was even proposed, the American Petroleum Institute was already trying to shut it down.3 The polluters have a head start, but with your help, we can catch up.
Will you make history again? Flood the EPA with support for these life-saving protections against soot.
While the big polluters attack, we have won victory after victory for clean air thanks to your amazing grassroots support.
The EPA is taking comments right now on their proposed soot standard. Your public support will make a difference, so take action today and tell polluters it's time to clear our skies and protect public health.
Stand up for life-saving soot protections. Send a message supporting the Clean Air Act now!
Thanks for everything you do to protect the environment,
Mary Anne Hitt
Beyond Coal Campaign Director
Sierra Club
P.S. After you take action, be sure to forward this alert to your friends and colleagues!
REFERENCES
1. More Than Two Million Comments Delivered In Support of EPA's Carbon Pollution Standards, Sierra Club Compass, June 26, 2012
2. Sick of Soot: How the EPA Can Save Lives by Cleaning Up Fine Particle Air Pollution, Clean Air Task Force, Nov. 2011.
3. Air Pollution: Lobbying starts on soot standards, sets stage for summertime brawl, E&E News, June 12, 2012