14 DAY TRIAL // The US Environmental Protection Agency recently determined that, in spite of the 1990 Clean Air Amendments, some national power plants still do not abide by “green” standards.
What makes matters even worse is that nowadays pollution-control technologies are widely available to those who are interested in protecting the environment.
What we mean is that the said power plants are pretty much short of excuses when it comes to not investing in controlling their mercury, metallic toxics and acid gases emissions.
The major drive behind pushing Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) is the fact that these air pollutants are known to cause serious health issues, particularly when those who come in contact with these substances are pregnant women, infants or toddlers.
Thus, preoccupied with the wellbeing of the citizens living in the cities under their jurisdiction, 90 US mayors wrote and signed a letter addressed to Lisa Jackson, EPA's administrator, in which they expressed their full support for the new MATS this institution is trying to push forward.
Grist reports that Michael Bloomberg, New York's mayor, is one of the people involved in this “campaign” aimed at raising more awareness in terms of environmental protection.
Others are the mayors of Kentucky, Tennessee and Montana, all of which are coal-mining states.
As they explain in their letter, cutting down on air pollution will also result in significant savings for the national budget, as presently $90 billion (€72 billion) go into health-care on a yearly basis.
This could be easily avoided simply by taking care of the environment in which the individuals are supposed to carry on with their living.
Interestingly enough, this letter comes at a time when various members of the US Congress are trying to prevent EPA from having its “green” way and implementing these new rules and regulations.
From where we stand, it is a good thing that those who are supposed to represent the people actually step up and do their job.