EPA Changes to New Source Review: Accounting Gimmicks that Increase Pollution

American Lung Association
Thursday, 13 June 2002

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's announced changes to the Clean Air Act rules, known as New Source Review, are accounting gimmicks that will increase air pollution and threaten public health. EPA is taking a page from Arthur Andersen's accounting "cook book" that will allow chemical companies, oil refineries, and power plants to increase air pollution while claiming on paper they are not.

The American people need real, enforceable reductions in air pollution. We can plainly see that allowing polluters to rely on such gimmicks as "predicted future actual emissions" and "emissions baselines" from ten years ago that public health will be threatened, not enhanced by these weakening changes.

The weakening changes announced by EPA Administrator Christine Whitman can be used to increase pollution at over 17,000 major sources across the nation. At the same time, little progress has been made at implementing the more protective health standards for ozone and particle pollution adopted by EPA in 1997.

Clearly EPA is putting its energy into making the air look cleaner on paper rather than implementing the tougher air pollution reduction measures we need to clean up dirty air areas.

All Americans deserve to breathe clean air and the American Lung Association will fight these changes.

The American Lung Association® has been fighting lung disease for nearly 100 years. With the generous support of the public and the help of volunteers, we have seen many advances against lung disease. However, our work is not finished. As we look forward to our second century, we will continue to strive to make breathing easier for everyone through programs of education, community service, advocacy, and research. The American Lung Association®'s activities are supported by donations to Christmas Seals® and other voluntary contributions.

For more information, or to contact American Lung Association, see their website at: www.lungusa.org