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The Bush administration is continuing to work with polluters on one of the broadest efforts to weaken our clean air protections in the history of the Clean Air Act. We expect that Congress will be making a number of crucial decisions on clean air in September and October.
One such decision is on the nation's 130 million "non-road" engines, which emit smog-forming nitrogen oxides and dangerous fine particulate soot, contributing to thousands of premature deaths each year.
At the request of engine manufacturer Briggs and Stratton, Sen. Kit Bond (MO) added an amendment to the EPA funding bill to prevent states from cleaning up "non-road" equipment. Briggs and Stratton told the Senate and press that the debate is about jobs, but the company told the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Sept. 2003 report that it "does not believe" new clean air rules "will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations."
The full Senate is expected to vote on this issue soon. Please take a moment to urge your senators to preserve states' ability to clean up their air and oppose Sen. Bond's amendment. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=223&id4=OHFreep
In 2000, the nation's 130 million "non-road" engines emitted nearly two million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and more dangerous fine particulate soot than all of the nation's trucks and buses combined. These pollutants contribute to thousands of premature deaths each year, as well as asthma attacks, heart disease, cancer and a variety of other serious health problems.
Earlier this month, Senator Kit Bond of Missouri inserted new language into the appropriations bill that funds the EPA to prohibit states from cleaning up gasoline and diesel equipment under 175 horsepower, such as forklifts, generators and ground service equipment. Senator Bond acted at the request of Briggs and Stratton, an engine manufacturer, in an effort to derail proposed rules in California that would reduce emissions from lawn and garden equipment by 50 percent, which the state says would be the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road. California is the only state with the authority to set vehicle emission standards, but other states can adopt California's more protective standards.
Briggs and Stratton has told the Senate and press that the debate is about jobs, but, in its September 2003 report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company reported, "Briggs and Stratton does not believe the [California] proposal will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations." Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA) has called for a SEC investigation, stating that Briggs and Stratton "is either misleading its shareholders and the SEC or it is misleading the members of the United States Senate."
Senator Feinstein has vowed to fight this effort on the Senate floor and plans to offer an amendment to the EPA funding bill next week to strike the provision from the bill. We need your help! Please take a moment to urge your senators to support Senator Feinstein's amendment and preserve states' ability to clean up their air. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=223&id4=OHFreep
Sincerely,
Erin Bowser Ohio PIRG Advocate
One such decision is on the nation's 130 million "non-road" engines, which emit smog-forming nitrogen oxides and dangerous fine particulate soot, contributing to thousands of premature deaths each year.
At the request of engine manufacturer Briggs and Stratton, Sen. Kit Bond (MO) added an amendment to the EPA funding bill to prevent states from cleaning up "non-road" equipment. Briggs and Stratton told the Senate and press that the debate is about jobs, but the company told the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Sept. 2003 report that it "does not believe" new clean air rules "will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations."
The full Senate is expected to vote on this issue soon. Please take a moment to urge your senators to preserve states' ability to clean up their air and oppose Sen. Bond's amendment. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=223&id4=OHFreep
In 2000, the nation's 130 million "non-road" engines emitted nearly two million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and more dangerous fine particulate soot than all of the nation's trucks and buses combined. These pollutants contribute to thousands of premature deaths each year, as well as asthma attacks, heart disease, cancer and a variety of other serious health problems.
Earlier this month, Senator Kit Bond of Missouri inserted new language into the appropriations bill that funds the EPA to prohibit states from cleaning up gasoline and diesel equipment under 175 horsepower, such as forklifts, generators and ground service equipment. Senator Bond acted at the request of Briggs and Stratton, an engine manufacturer, in an effort to derail proposed rules in California that would reduce emissions from lawn and garden equipment by 50 percent, which the state says would be the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road. California is the only state with the authority to set vehicle emission standards, but other states can adopt California's more protective standards.
Briggs and Stratton has told the Senate and press that the debate is about jobs, but, in its September 2003 report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company reported, "Briggs and Stratton does not believe the [California] proposal will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations." Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA) has called for a SEC investigation, stating that Briggs and Stratton "is either misleading its shareholders and the SEC or it is misleading the members of the United States Senate."
Senator Feinstein has vowed to fight this effort on the Senate floor and plans to offer an amendment to the EPA funding bill next week to strike the provision from the bill. We need your help! Please take a moment to urge your senators to support Senator Feinstein's amendment and preserve states' ability to clean up their air. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=223&id4=OHFreep
Sincerely,
Erin Bowser Ohio PIRG Advocate