Critics and supporters of a proposal by the U.S. EPA to roll back clean air protections on older facilities spoke out at a public hearing in Romulus March 31.

EPA solicited comment on its proposed changes to the New Source Review (NSR) rule. NSR currently makes plants install modern pollution controls whenever they make major modifications that substantially increase pollution. The proposed rule changes would essentially eliminate the law by allowing power plants to increase their pollution without limit, so long as the changes to the plant cost less than a certain amount or consist of replacing one part with another similar part. The proposal represents the most dramatic rollback of our clean air laws since Congress enacted those protections more than 30 years ago. Behind this effort are corporate interests that made lavish campaign contributions in hopes of legalizing plant upgrades without modernizing pollution controls.

Eighteen major coal-burning facilities comprise the single largest source of industrial pollution in Michigan. Virtually all would be exempted by the proposed EPA rule. As a result, pollution from these plants will continue to shorten the lives of an estimated 871 Michigan residents each year and trigger an estimated 18,500 asthma attacks.

A diverse coalition of environmental and public health advocates and others sent a strong message that Michiganders will fight to protect air quality. Among the group was Eric Schaeffer, current Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former EPA Chief of Civil Enforcement. Schaeffer's resignation last year in protest of Bush Administration environmental policies was covered by major news publications and television shows around the country.

Joining Schaeffer at a morning press conference were two physicians, a rabbi from Oak Park, and a patient suffering with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Said Schaeffer: "EPA's proposal removes pollution controls by replacing the law with a loophole that promises eternal life to some of the oldest, dirtiest polluters in the country." It would be particularly hard on southeast Michigan children, senior citizens, and people suffering with chronic health conditions such as asthma. In fact, Detroit has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the country.

Several critics, including Michigan U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Representative John Dingell, have blasted the Bush Administration for moving forward without making public any analysis showing what impact weakening the safeguard would have on public health.

Other cities hosting the EPA hearings were Albany, New York; Dallas, Texas; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and Salt Lake City, Utah.