Mary McClelland, Environmental Law & Policy Center, mmcclelland@elpc.org
Larisa Manescu, Sierra Club, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
Troy Shaheen, Clean Air Task Force, tshaheen@catf.us
Angela Gonzales, National Parks Conservation Association, agonzales@npca.org
WASHINGTON, DC – Today is the last day of EPA’s comment period for a proposed rule that would reduce pollution from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This rule would govern trucks and buses across the nation and impact millions of Americans, going into effect for model year 2027.
Together, several leading environmental groups, including Environmental Law and Policy Center, Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association, and Clean Air Task Force submitted technical comments, along with thousands of public comments, urging the EPA to deliver a strong final rule that would go further than the options EPA proposed.
Below are quotes from organizations submitting technical and public comments today:
Ann Jaworski, Staff Attorney at the Environmental Law & Policy Center: “Reducing emissions from trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles is one of the most important steps we can take to combat climate change and protect public health in cities like Chicago. EPA must take a more ambitious approach than its proposed Option 1 and recognize that by the time its standards take effect in model year 2027, a wide variety of zero-emission vehicles will be available to cost-effectively transport people and goods. A stronger final rule will ensure overburdened environmental justice communities in the Midwest and across the country breathe lower levels of dangerous ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxide pollution.”
Katherine García, Director of Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign: “The EPA has heard loud and clear from communities across the country, including over 11,000 Sierra Club supporters, that its proposal doesn’t go far enough to clean up trucks and buses. We urge the Agency to listen to this collective call to action and act accordingly with ambition and urgency – EPA must stick to its own mission of protecting public health and the environment by strengthening this rule.”
Jonathan Lewis, Director of Clean Air Task Force’s Transportation Decarbonization Program: “The rapid uptake of zero-emission technologies by trucking companies creates an important opportunity to protect public health and promote further decarbonization of the U.S. trucking sector. EPA’s proposed rule doesn’t adequately account for this progress, so our comments spotlight a path the agency should pursue to achieve deep reductions in diesel emissions by harnessing the development of the zero-emitting heavy duty trucks.”
Stephanie Kodish, Senior Director and Counsel for National Parks Conservation Association’s (NPCA) Clean Air and Climate Programs: “Pollution from heavy-duty vehicles is threatening the health of our national parks and communities. This pollution is driving climate change that is wreaking havoc on parks as increased temperatures are drying out parks’ rivers and lakes, jeopardizing critical water sources for plants and animals and putting more pressure on already failing infrastructure. NPCA and numerous organizations are urging EPA to issue the strongest possible standards for these key sources of air and climate pollution. Without strong safeguards protecting the air we breathe, we cannot keep our people and parks healthy.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.
About the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC): ELPC is the Midwest’s premier environmental legal advocacy organization. We use the power of the law and strategic advocacy campaigns to create climate change solutions, advance clean energy, protect public health, and preserve the Midwest's wild and natural places. For more information, visit www.elpc.org
About Clean Air Task Force: Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. For more information, visit catf.us
About National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.