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Global warming bills gather support
More than 115 members of Congress have cosponsored the Safe Climate
Act, a science-based bill to dramatically reduce global warming pollution.
Introduced in late June by Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), the bill requires
the United States to reduce its global warming pollution by about 15
percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050. Rep. Conyers (Detroit) is
among the supporters.
To help boost cosponsorship of the bill, we released “Rising to the Challenge:
Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution in the United States.”
The report lists six strategies that, if implemented, could achieve these
reductions, while improving America’s environment and our energy
security. Recommendations include increasing gas mileage standards
to 40 miles per gallon.
Coastal drilling bill is oil industry giveaway
In the lame duck session of Congress, lawmakers passed a bill that ends
the decades-old moratorium on oil and gas drilling off most of America’s
shores. Despite a successful May 18 House vote to uphold the ban on
new offshore drilling, our shores have now been opened to drilling. In
July, Sens. Domenici (N.M.), Martinez (Fla.), Landrieu (La.) introduced
and passed a bill to open up 8.3 million acres of ocean off Florida’s coast
to oil and gas drilling.
“Opening our shores to drilling puts our scenic beaches and coastal
waters at great risk for a small, short-term supply of oil and gas,” said
Oceans Advocate Mike Gravitz. “Routine drilling operations dump
thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals into the marine environment
and could spoil the delicate ecology and economic value of America’s
beautiful beaches for generations”
According to the Minerals Management Service, the new areas of the
Gulf of Mexico that this bill would open contain approximately 525
million barrels of oil or about 26 days worth of oil at current consumption
rates.
New air quality standards reject science, endanger millions
The Environmental Protection Agency finalized new national air quality
standards for particle “soot” pollution in September. Under the standard
recommended by EPA’s own scientists, emissions would be reduced to
25 μg/m3 per day, the level of soot pollution deemed safe to breathe in
one day. The Bush administration instead chose a more industry-friendly
standard, one that allows 35 μg/m3 per day.
The American Lung Association and numerous medical and public
health groups had urged EPA to adopt much stricter soot limits to reduce
the number of emergency room visits caused by soot pollution.
“We are extremely disappointed in the Bush administration’s decision
to turn its back on the clear scientific facts about this deadly pollutant,”
said Clean Air & Energy Advocate Emily Figdor.
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