LETTERS

A Lasting Legacy

Sat. Apr. 26, 2008


In the story “Vanishing Act” [4/12/08, p. 18], Margaret Kriz regrettably ignores mountains of evidence of environmental accomplishments to focus on molehills created by yammering critics. Here are some truths she ignored.

The first truth is that our nation’s air is cleaner today than a generation ago. Since 1970, total emissions of the nation’s six key air pollutants are down by well over 50 percent in the United States. EPA is building on our clean-air progress through several recent rule-makings. The new Locomotive and Marine Diesel Rule will cut emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides by up to 90 percent; the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule will achieve the largest reduction in air pollution for eastern states in more than a decade; and the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule will cut emission levels from heavy-duty diesel-powered equipment by more than 90 percent.

EPA also worked with the diesel refiners and engine manufacturers to introduce ultra-low-sulfur diesel—the greatest environmental and public health achievement since lead was phased out of gasoline. And topping EPA’s mountain of clean-air achievements are the significantly strengthened standards for particulate matter and smog. In 2006, EPA issued the most-health-protective standards for particulate matter ever. Earlier this year, after extensive scientific review, I strengthened the standards for smog—creating the most stringent eight-hour standard for ozone in our nation’s history.

Another truth is that EPA and the Bush administration have spent more than $45 billion on climate-change science, technology, and tax-incentive programs—more than any country in the world. In addition, we have worked with Congress to pass energy legislation that increases the vehicle fuel economy standard and requires fuel producers to step up the production of renewable fuels. We also mandated the increased efficiency of lighting and appliances.

These actions will prevent billions of metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions from entering the atmosphere. And earlier this month, President Bush committed America to a new national goal to stop the growth in U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 2025. Because this is a global challenge, we are proposing a global solution by urging major industrialized countries to develop their own national goals.

EPA’s clean-air accomplishments are just the tip of the mountain. I encourage your readers to look up how the agency’s enforcement office is delivering record-setting commitments from polluters to spend on pollution controls and environmental projects, how our brownfields program is putting both people and property back to work, and how we are reaching the president’s goal of creating, improving, and protecting at least 3 million acres of wetlands.

Your cover asked, “Where Is EPA?” Well, despite the sniping of some critics, 17,000 of us have been working hard to create a lasting environmental legacy that will benefit all Americans for years to come.

Stephen L. Johnson
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency