Press Mention The Knoxville News-Sentinel June 30, 2002
SACE Quoted
Protestors expected to greet Frist, EPA's Whitman
In this mention
EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and Senator Bill Frist visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park on July 1, 2002, where they were met by environmental protestors opposing the Bush administration's Clean Air Act policies. Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, led efforts to demonstrate against Whitman's recent announcement, which environmentalists argue will weaken air quality protections. The visit highlighted ongoing disputes between TVA, the EPA, and environmental groups over pollution control requirements for coal-fired power plants.
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Protestors expected to greet Frist, EPA's Whitman
By Rebecca Ferrar
News-Sentinel business writer
When EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and U.S. Sen. Bill Frist visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park today, they will be met by protestors demanding the Bush administration do more to clean the air in the park.
Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said he expects scores of demonstrators
to rally against Whitman's recent announcement that environmentalists say will drastically set back the Clean Air Act.
"Sen. Frist (R-Tenn.) extended the invitation to Administrator Whitman to come visit the Smokies and see firsthand the problem of pollution in the park," said Frist spokeswoman Margaret Camp. "He hopes that by getting a closer look at the situation and discussing the issues, the administration will be able to effectively combat the problem of pollution in the Smokies."
The Clean Air Act includes New Source Review standards under which utilities, like TVA, must update pollution control equipment at its older, coal-fired plants to reduce emissions when expansions or major modifications are made.
Those emissions, along with automobile emissions, are endangering the health of the children, seniors and the park, environmentalists and health experts say.
TVA counters that it is spending $1 million a day to bring its older plants up-to-date with more modern pollution
equipment.
Smith and other environmentalists said they hope Frist will lead the way in insisting that the Bush administration clarify its Clear Skies initiative and do all it can to provide better air in the Smokies.
Whitman and Frist will arrive at the park's Sugarlands Visitor Center at 9:40 a.m., then board a bus for the Clingmans Dome parking lot and hike the half-mile to the Clingmans Dome air quality monitoring station. There, park officials will provide a briefing.
"TVA is absolutely committed to complying with the Clean Air Act and doing our part to reduce pollution that affects the Great Smoky Mountains," said TVA Director Bill Baxter. He called Whitman's visit a "great signal" that she also cares about making the air cleaner.
Don Barger, regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association, said he will be on hand today to provide information to the press and others about the damaging effects of TVA's plants on the park.