NLCCC DENOUNCES WHITE HOUSE DECISION TO DELAY SMOG PROTECTIONS UNTIL 2013

Sep 2, 2011

NLCCC DENOUNCES WHITE HOUSE DECISION TO DELAY SMOG PROTECTIONS UNTIL 2013,

DECISION FAVORS POLLUTERS WHILE COMPROMISING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, President Obama announced a two-year delay for stricter smog standards proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and backed by activists from consumer, health, faith-based, Latino and environmental groups. The National Latino Coalition on Climate Change (NLCCC) denounced the decision, calling it an enormous setback to the health of Latinos, a community that is concentrated in areas that repeatedly violate federal ozone standards.

“One out of 2 Latinos live in areas that fail to meet federal air quality standards for ozone, a potent pollutant and major ingredient of smog. We are shocked and disappointed with the President’s decision to postpone a crucial issue that affects a majority of Latinos, jeopardizing the health of our children, the elderly and people with respiratory ailments,” said Rafael Fantauzzi, NLCCC Chair and President of the National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. (NPRC). “We don’t have to pick and choose between safeguarding public health and creating jobs, as multiple studies have shown, with clean air standards we can do both.”

“The NLCCC has called on the President and the EPA to issue a more protective ozone standard because the current EPA-approved levels of the pollutant is contributing to emergency room visits, missed days from school and lost wages due to absences at work.  This decision deals a blow to the health and financial security of a community with the lowest rates of health care coverage and with median earnings that are lower than all racial and ethnic groups,” added Mark Magaña, NLCCC Executive Director.  “Our community can’t afford to have polluters continue to degrade air quality in our neighborhoods for two more years.”

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The NLCCC convenes 14 of the most prominent national Latino organizations to fight climate change, promote clean energy and improved environmental quality for Latino communities across the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

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