EPA need to enforce air standards for state

EPA need to enforce air standards for state

A new report from U.S. Public Interest Research Group documents the continuing air pollution problems in Knoxville.

The report titled "Danger in the Air" highlights the air-quality problems we experience across the state with smog and soot pollution from coal-fired power plants. Although the Tennessee Valley Authority recently reduced some dirty emissions and has plans for more, TVA has a long way to go in bringing pollution levels low enough to protect health.

Tennessee needs the support of a federal rule to reduce ozone-forming nitrogen oxides and soot-forming sulfur dioxide to not only ensure that TVA installs pollution controls, but also to require reductions from power plants outside the state whose pollution is a detriment to the health of Tennesseans.

Local and state governments are taking steps to reduce pollution through the means available to them, but they need the help of the federal government to clean up the biggest polluters, coal-fired power plants. Local and state governments can't bear this burden on their own.

If local areas fail to meet EPA's health standards, they will experience more stringent controls on economic growth. EPA needs to strengthen its clean-air interstate proposal to clean up power plants, ensure that all of Tennessee meets EPA's air standards and let all of us breathe a little easier.

VALERIE TRUE
Clean Air Program Coordinator
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Knoxville