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Statement Of Joanne Shrewsbury
Environmental Protection Agency
Aging Initiative Public Listening Session
Tampa, Florida
April 3, 2003
First I wish to express my appreciation for this listening event. It affords us a wonderful opportunity to see you and to speak to you.
I have been a resident of Florida for nearly 20 years and am very much aware of our air quality. We experience many days of "moderate" air quality and at this level, children and senior citizens especially, can feel the effects. Also there are days when the air is so poor that elderly and ill people are advised to stay indoors. Some of this pollution is due to power plant emissions. The utilities need to share the responsibility and invest in state of the art emission controls, not only with their new or reconstructed plants but also on the old, so called "grand fathered in" fossil fuel plants. They have to afford it.
This is a situation in many cities throughout the United States. I am concerned about the Clear Skies Initiative. Will it weaken the regulations of the Clean Air Act? Also can those responsible statistically consider lowering the value of human life by counting anyone's life on a percentage basis. I am pleased to hear that EPA is not considering this.
I would like more information on the Clear Skies Initiative, compared to the Clean Air Act. I'm happy to learn about the improvement in sulfur oxides in the Clear Skies Initiative. How about the other emissions?