Edward Smith, Edward.Smith@sierraclub.org
Andy Knott, Andy.Knott@sierraclub.org
SAINT LOUIS, MO -- The Sierra Club announced a new national “polluter watchdog” program yesterday by issuing Freedom of Information ACT (FOIA) and state-based open records requests to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The environmental organization decided to launch the program soon after the Trump Administration chose to use the coronavirus pandemic as justification to suspend EPA’s enforcement of pollution standards. With the program’s launch, Sierra Club is pledging to hold violating polluters accountable to state and federal laws, and to protect vulnerable communities from illegal levels of pollution.
“The Trump EPA policy comes at a time when direct links are being made between high levels of air pollution and advanced cases of COVID-19, which attacks the lungs,” said Michael Brune, Sierra Club’s Executive Director. “Eliminating EPA’s enforcement of pollution standards at a time when millions of people’s lungs are under attack by the coronavirus is a disgrace that will only exacerbate the public health crisis. We refuse to stand by and let polluters take advantage of communities at a time when the Trump Administration should be doing everything possible to protect people’s health.”
The new Trump EPA policy lets companies use the coronavirus as an excuse to “self-monitor” air and water pollution, with little oversight or enforcement from the agency. Trump’s policy also assures companies that EPA may not penalize companies if they violate air and water pollution limits (many of which control highly toxic substances). Instead, the Trump EPA policy merely asks companies to “act responsibly,” essentially giving polluters free rein to evade requirements designed to protect the public health of our communities.
The Sierra Club will target states and companies that represent some of the worst sources of pollution in the nation, such as coal plants and other large industrial polluters that already threaten the health of thousands of communities across the country with pollution, including in Missouri. “Coal plants emit massive amounts of Nitrogen Dioxide (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (SOx), two pollutants known to cause damage to people’s lungs and autoimmune systems,” said Andy Knott, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in Missouri. “It is troubling the EPA is using a respiratory pandemic to allow increased levels of air pollution that make it harder for people to breathe.”
The open records requests in Missouri include the following facilities, operators, and locations:
- Bissell Point Wastewater Treatment Plant & Incinerator - Metropolitan Sewer District - St. Louis, MO
- Brushy Creek Mine/Mill - Doe Run Company - Boss, MO
- Fletcher Mine/Mill - Doe Run Company - Centerville, MO
- Hawthorn Generating Station - Evergy, Inc. - Kansas City, MO
- Iatan Generating Station - Evergy, Inc. - Weston, MO
- John Twitty Energy Center - City Utilities of Springfield - Springfield, MO
- Labadie Energy Center - Ameren Missouri - Labadie, MO
- Meramec Energy Center - Ameren Missouri - Labadie, MO
- New Madrid Power Plant - Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Martson, MO
- Rush Island Energy Center - Ameren Missouri - Festus, MO
- Sikeston Power Station - Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities - Sikeston, MO
- Sioux Energy Center - Ameren Missouri - West Alton, MO
- Thomas Hill Energy Center - Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Clifton Hill, MO
The EPA Region 7 FOIA request can be found here.
The DNR sunshine request can be found here.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.