Groups Plan EPA Suit, Want To Force Air Standards

By Ray Snader · Citizen Tribune

In this mention

A coalition of environmental groups including the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy announced plans to sue the EPA to enforce new national ozone health standards. Stephen Smith of SACE criticized EPA's delay in designating polluted areas, noting that 59 Southeast cities and counties exceed ozone standards affecting over 23 million people. Sevier County simultaneously launched a campaign to reduce air pollution in the Smoky Mountains through cleaner-burning fuels.

EPA has said it may wait until 2004 to formally designate the cities and counties for cleanup. That's just not acceptable. Every year of delay means more suffering for our natural resources and families.
Stephen A. Smith

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Bacon's

Groups Plan EPA Suit, Want To Force Air Standards

BY RAY SNADER
Tribune Correspondent

A coalition of environmental groups announced Thursday that it plans to file a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, in an effort to force the federal agency to enforce new national health standards for ozone, which is responsible for the creation of smog.

The groups, including the American Lung Association and Knoxville based Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, say they are "frustrated by the foot-dragging" on the part of EPA. That legal action is expected to demand that EPA identify areas in the nation that have unhealthy air quality.

In the Southeast, there were 59 cities and counties with ozone monitors that recently showed levels of pollution that violate the new standards. According to the American Lung Association more than 23 million people in the Southeast life in areas that have unhealthy ozone levels.

"EPA has said it may wait until 2004 to formally designate the cities and counties for cleanup," said Stephen Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

"That's just not acceptable. Every year of delay means more suffering for our natural resources and families."

Enforcement of the new regulations has been delayed by lawsuits filed by industries that would be impacted by the new standards.

Also on Thursday, Sevier County announced that it is beginning a campaign to reduce pollution in the Smoky Mountains by encouraging the use of cleaner burning fuels. During Clean Air Week, June 24-29, all of the vehicles in the Sevier County fleet, including trucks and trolleys, will operate on ultra-low-sulfur fuel, according to County Executive Larry Waters.

In addition, there will be a demonstration of low-emission hybrid-electric, fuel cell, compressed natural gas and low-sulfur diesel transit buses, which Waters said "will be one of the largest displays in U. S. history."

The Electric Transit Vehicle Institute, based in Chattanooga, is managing the week-long display, with support from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The fuel cell bus, designed and operated by Georgetown University, emits only clean water vapor and heat.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the nation's most visited park, and "we are very concerned about the impact that air pollution is having on the experience of visitors and the natural resources the park is charged with protecting," said Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson.

Studies have shown the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most polluted national parks in the country.