Ron Wyden: “I have placed a hold on the nomination of Roger A. Martella, Jr., to be general counsel of the U.S. Environmental…”

“I have placed a hold on the nomination of Roger A. Martella, Jr., to be general counsel of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consistent with my policy of publicly announcing whenever I place a hold on a nomination, I want to notify my colleagues of my objection to allowing Mr. Martella's nomination to be considered under a unanimous consent agreement and to take a few minutes to explain to my colleagues why I am doing so. After many years of delay, the EPA has finally proposed regulations under the Clean Air Act to protect Americans from toxic air pollutants from cars and trucks and other mobile sources. But instead of proposing a rule that would protect all Americans from these toxic emissions, EPA's proposal would essentially turn the Pacific Northwest into an environmental sacrifice zone. EPA's analysis shows that the biggest risk from these pollutants comes from benzene which is naturally found in petroleum products and ends up in the gas tanks of our cars and in the gas cans in our garages. Some of the highest levels of benzene in gasoline are found in the Northwest. In fact, our region of the country has the highest average levels of benzene in gasoline in the United States, more than three times higher than gasoline here on the east coast. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Exposure to benzene has been shown to cause leukemia and poses other health risks, such as genetic changes.”