Trump’s EPA to expose more people to toxic air pollution

Washington D.C– In anticipation of Trump’s EPA weakening Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants under the Clean Air Act, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released the following statement from LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis:

“With this rumored action, Trump is risking our lives and the future of the next generation by pushing dirty, expensive coal that contributes to toxic air pollution and waste – all to benefit his fossil fuel cronies. Weakening critical clean air safeguards will harm public health- especially for children, older adults, low income communities, and communities of color disproportionately impacted by soot pollution and toxic mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals emitted from coal-fired power plants. This will contribute to thousands of additional deaths, asthma attacks, and  learning disabilities, none of which will be considered in the cost of this decision because the Trump administration has valued human lives and other health impacts at $0.  We will continue to push back on the Trump administration prioritizing polluters over people and call on them to abandon this reckless proposal that will make our air dirtier and people sicker – all while the costs of energy and healthcare continue to skyrocket.”

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