Region 1: EPA New England
EPA Working to Protect New Englanders from Downwind Air Pollution
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
By Curt Spalding
August 25, 2010
(Boston, Mass. – August 25, 2010) - New England common sense tells us that it’s smarter and easier to prevent pollution at the source, rather than pay the price in health problems and an impaired environment. So New Englanders will be glad to know that former EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson recently signed a proposal for the "Transport Rule," a measure that targets reductions in harmful smog- and soot-forming power plant emissions before they are transported by wind and weather into 31 eastern states – including all of New England.
Right now, millions of tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are carried into eastern states by wind and weather. The pollution crosses state lines and often contributes to elevated levels of fine particles and ground-level ozone. EPA is especially concerned about fine particles and ground-level ozone during hot summers like this one, when pollution concentrations increase and people head outside more often. Using the authority of the "good neighbor" provision of the Clean Air Act, the Transport Rule and other state and EPA clean air actions would reduce SO2 pollution by 71 percent within four years. At the same time, NOx pollution would drop by 52 percent.
The proposed Transport Rule is literally a life-saver. EPA projects that in 2014, the rule will prevent up to 36,000 premature deaths, along with 23,000 non-fatal heart attacks and 26,000 costly hospital and emergency department visits. By reducing air pollution moving across state lines, we can avoid hundreds of thousands of respiratory illnesses like acute bronchitis and aggravated asthma. The rule will not only save lives and money on doctor bills; it will also increase economic productivity by avoiding 1.9 million days of missed work or school.
And here’s more good news: Preventing pollution comes at a bargain price. Overall costs are estimated at $2.8 billion in 2014, roughly the cost for industry to install technology that is already available. That more than pays for itself by providing $120 to $290 billion in annual health benefits to individuals and families. This is one of the highest returns on investment of any rule ever proposed by the EPA.
Finally, the Transport Rule lays the foundation for additional protections that will reduce the amounts of harmful, costly air pollution traveling into our states. That includes ground-level ozone, the primary ingredient in smog, which poses a major health threat across the country. EPA will soon finalize standards for ozone, leading to proposing a second Transport Rule in 2011 and further improving the air we breathe.
Asking "upwind" states to our west and south to address their emissions will not only clean up their own air, but will be a big help to those people living, working and raising families all across New England. That adds up to healthier people, a cleaner environment and big savings for communities across the region. Yes, New England common sense tells us that it is a good idea for everyone. I encourage you to learn more about and comment on the proposed Transport Rule.