David Price: “I am proud to inform colleagues that North Carolina has become the first southern State to impose tough new pollution…”

“I am proud to inform colleagues that North Carolina has become the first southern State to impose tough new pollution standards on aging coal-fired power plants. This bipartisan legislation is an initiative of Governor Mike Easley, with the collaboration of industry and of environmental and public health advocates. It requires plants to reduce their sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 74 and 78 percent, respectively. These standards will improve the quality of life for North Carolinians, and they will save lives by reducing the incidence and severity of respiratory illness. Ironically, as North Carolina takes steps to improve air quality, the Bush administration has proposed a major step backward, actually weakening the Clean Air Act. The EPA's proposed loosening of 'new source review' regulations would allow thousands of the country's biggest polluters to avoid installing pollution-control equipment as they update and modernize their plants. So even though North Carolina will be doing its part to reduce pollution that causes ozone and acid rain, our State will continue to be stricken by pollution from other States. North Carolina has taken a significant step, Mr. Speaker. I am hopeful that this will stiffen EPA's spine, to give all Americans the protection they need.”