Press Releases & Bulletins

ARCHIVE

BIG OIL COMPANIES MAKE NEARLY $15 BILLION IN SECOND-QUARTER PROFITS

Most big oil companies continue to oppose efforts to clean up dirty diesel fuel. Too costly, they insist. They also claim they were the helpless victims of "market forces" that drove up gas prices earlier this summer.

EXXONMOBIL SHOWS OIL INDUSTRY CAN AFFORD DIESEL CLEANUP
Oil Profits Raise New Questions About Price Gouging

(Washington, DC, July 25, 2000) -- ExxonMobil's latest profit announcement "clearly demonstrates" that the oil industry can afford to clean up diesel fuel, the nonprofit Clean Air Trust noted today.

FOR TOSCO, DOES 'GREEN' MEAN GREEN?

The nation's major oil companies began reporting the second-quarter profits on July 20th. First out of the gate was the Tosco Corp., which reported that profits jumped 71 percent from the same period a year ago.

Tosco, the nation's largest independent refiner, is an outspoken supporter of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to clean up diesel fuel in order to clean up diesel trucks and buses. Not coincidentally, Tosco is the oil company that receives the highest "buy" rating by stock analysts surveyed by the First Call Company.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES AGAINST CLEAN AIR, PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW

(Washington, D.C. June 22, 2000) - The House of Representatives voted last night against clean air and against the public's right to know if the air they breathe is unhealthy, the nonprofit Clean Air Trust said today.

PUBLIC OVERWHELMINGLY WANTS DIESEL TRUCK AND FUEL CLEANUP, ACCORDING TO NEW NATIONAL SURVEY

(Washington, D.C. June 16, 2000) -- Nearly nine out of 10 people believe that big diesel trucks and buses should be required to use the best available pollution control technology, according to a new national public opinion survey.

NEW WEB SITE TO FOCUS ON CLEANUP OF DIRTY DIESEL TRUCKS, DIESEL FUEL

(Washington, D.C. June 15, 2000) -- How much money does the chairman of Exxon-Mobil make? Are oil companies crying wolf when it comes to cleaning up dirty diesel fuel? What can average citizens do to clean up big, smelly trucks?

These questions and others will be answered by a new Web site, http://www.cleanupdiesel.org/, unveiled today by the Clean Air Trust Education Fund in conjunction with the American Lung Association.

PIRACY AT THE PUMPS?

Why didn't the oil industry plan for known supply needs?

The headlines of the past two weeks have seemed bizarre, to say the least: "U.S. Facing Dilemma over Super-Clean Gas . . . Chicago Drivers Pay $2/Gallon for Gasoline . . . Wall Street Sees Wide Refining Margins: Strong 2Q Company Profits."

What the heck is happening to gasoline prices in the heartland? Who stands to profit? Is the oil industry engaged in piracy at the pumps?

THE MUSKIE-CHAFEE AWARD
Second Annual Award Recipient Announced

The Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division Muskie-Chafee Award honors a current or former federal employee who, in large measure through government work, has made significant contributions to protecting our nation's environment, public lands, and natural resources, and fulfilling of our nation's responsibilities to Native Americans and their natural resources. Named after two leaders of the modern environmental movement, Senator Edmund S. Muskie and Senator John H. Chafee, the award was presented this year for the second time. Read the entire release and learn more about the award and its recipient, Charles W. "Spinner" Findlay, III.

A RESPONSE TO SENATOR VOINOVICH

Recently some of you may have received a copy of a letter written by Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) and addressed to the Clean Air Trust. (The Senator's office distributed the letter to selected reporters four days before it actually arrived at the Trust's office. We believe a public reply is in order. (As a matter of courtesy, we are sending it to the Senator first.)

Sen. Voinovich was responding to a Clean Air Trust news release that warned about the potential adverse consequences of a bill (S.2362) the Senator has introduced to amend the Clean Air Act. The Senator's letter includes a hodge-podge of misstatements, half-truths, and downright silly assertions designed to mask the true purpose of his legislation, which is to give polluting industry additional leverage in resisting clean air controls.

TRUST HAILS 'HISTORIC' EPA TRUCK CLEANUP PLAN, NOTES 'KEY COMPONENT' OF CLEAN-AIR LEGACY

(Washington, D.C. May 17, 2000) - The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today hailed the "historic" plan by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up big diesel trucks and diesel fuel. "This proposal is truly historic," said , executive director of the Clean Air Trust. "It will finally mean the end of the big, horrible, smoke-belching truck as we know it."

OIL COMPANY FIRST-QUARTER PROFITS
Think they can't afford to clean up dirty diesel fuel?

Big oil companies are "poor mouthing" when criticizing a draft Environmental Protection Agency plan for them to clean up their dirty diesel truck fuel. But they're telling Wall Street and stockholders that they are gushing profits.

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, CLEAN AIR TRUST UNVEIL RADIO SPOTS URGING DIESEL TRUCK CLEANUP NOW

(Washington, D.C. May 4, 2000) - The American Lung Association and the Clean Air Trust today unveiled radio commercials that urge President Clinton to proceed with a plan to clean up big diesel trucks and diesel fuel.

UNMASKING AMERICA

Every American who, for even a moment, might think our national investment in pollution control cost was too expensive need only visit Mexico City or Krakow, Poland, or the Black Sea to understand the alternative. No one event caused Americans to take these initiatives. No one person can take sole credit for our national foresight, but there were catalysts. Read the entire article by Leon Billings, President of the Clean Air Trust.

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION: NEW RESEARCH "VINDICATES" EPA, SHOWS NEED FOR TOUGHER CONTROLS ON TRUCKS, DIESEL FUEL

(Washington, D.C. April 11, 2000) - The American Lung Association said today that new research confirms a controversial finding that links soot particles to premature death and increased hospitalizations.

SENATORS SCHEME TO GUT CLEAN AIR ACT, BOGUS PLAN AIMED TO PROTECT POLLUTING INDUSTRIES

(Washington, D.C. March 29, 2000) -- Two senators with close ties to big polluting industries are scheming to gut the Clean Air Act, the nonprofit Clean Air Trust warned today.

The alarm from the clean-air watchdog group came in reaction to reports that Senators George Voinovich (R-OH) and John Breaux (D-LA) would introduce legislation to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from setting health-based clean-air standards -- the quality of the air people breathe -- without a mandatory cost-benefit test.

CLEAN AIR TRUST HAILS EPA PLAN TO PROMOTE CLEANUP OF EXISTING DIESEL ENGINES

(Washington, D.C. March 22, 2000) -- The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today hailed a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plan to reduce toxic air pollution from existing diesel trucks and other diesel engines.

The voluntary program is designed to encourage state and local governments and businesses to retrofit older diesel engines -- including construction equipment -- with pollution control devices.

STATE, LOCAL AGENCIES LINK 125,000 CANCERS TO DIESEL; OIL INDUSTRY SEEKS TO KILL EPA RULE

More than 125,000 Americans may get cancer from breathing diesel fumes from buses, trucks and other diesel engines, according to a new analysis by state and local clean air regulators.

The analysis, by the State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators and Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (STAPPA and ALAPCO), comes as the oil industry seeks to kill a proposed U.S. EPA plan to clean up diesel buses, trucks and diesel fuel. The EPA proposal is still under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

HIGHWAY LOBBY PRESSES CONGRESS TO BULLDOZE CLEAN AIR ACT
Texas Gov. Bush Seeks "Congressional Relief"

When the House of Representatives returns this week from its Presidents' Day break, the highway lobby will ramp up efforts to relax the Clean Air Act. The road-building lobby, assisted by aides to Texas Governor George Bush, is promoting legislation that would allow polluting highway projects to be funded even if those projects would clash with state clean-air improvement plans.

ENTERING THE NEW MILLENNIUM: AMERICANS WANT MORE DONE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

As we head into the new millennium, we thought it appropriate to point out that a wide variety of public opinion surveys taken in the past year show that Americans favor tougher environmental standards, particularly for clean air. Surveys from 1999 reveal strong support for stricter environmental statutes, as well as a growing concern with the overall quality of the environment. Read the survey results.

TRUST HAILS 'HISTORIC' VEHICLE, GASOLINE CLEANUP PLAN AS 'CROWN JEWEL' IN CLINTON-GORE 'CLEAN-AIR LEGACY'

(Washington, D.C. December 21, 1999) -- The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today hailed the "historic" decision by President Clinton to clean up cars, sport utility vehicles and gasoline.

"This is the crown jewel in the clean-air legacy of the Clinton-Gore administration," said , executive director of the Clean Air Trust. "It's a wonderful holiday gift from the President. It will mean better breathing for many millions of Americans for decades to come.

TRUST PRAISES EPA POWER PLANT CLEANUP PLAN

(Washington, D.C. December 17, 1999) -- The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today praised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's plan to clean up electric power plants that contribute to smog problems in downwind states.

GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

(December 3, 1999) -- Presidential candidate George W. Bush was asked about EPA's proposed low-sulfur gasoline standards during last night's Republican presidential candidate debate. The question may have been sparked in part by some hard-hitting Sierra Club commercials, broadcast this week in New Hampshire, that challenge Gov. Bush's record on clean air. Though Gov. Bush tried to defend his record, evidence compiled by the Sierra Club shows that air quality in Texas has deteriorated in the past few years. Read the question and answer, as well as the text of the Sierra Club ad and supporting documentation.

AUTO INDUSTRY DECEIVES CONGRESS IN EFFORT TO WEAKEN TIER 2 STANDARDS

(Washington, D.C. November 23, 1999) -- With little more than a month to go before the anticipated deadline for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new clean-vehicle/clean-gasoline rules, the automobile industry is pulling out the stops in an attempt to weaken the tailpipe pollution standards. They convinced some members of Congress to endorse their position by falsely implying that the American Lung Association supported the industry position.

A new EPA report is a reminder that the automobile lobby and other industries have often been wildly off base in their claims about the costs of clean air standards. The full report is available at http://www.epa.gov/oar/sect812. Learn the details on spurious industry claims -- and the reality.

Clean Air Trust Chairman Robert T. Stafford has some words of wisdom for the new chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

TRUST APPLAUDS JUSTICE SUITS AGAINST ROGUE DIRTY POWER PLANTS

(Washington, D.C. November 3, 1999) -- The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today applauded the law suits filed by the Justice Department against dirty coal-burning electric power plants in the Midwest and Southeast that allegedly violated the Clean Air Act.

The Trust said the resulting cleanup could prevent thousands of premature deaths, asthma attacks and other pollution-related health problems linked to pollution from the plants.

TRUST HAILS EPA STRATEGY TO CLEAN UP BIG TRUCKS; ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS URGE QUICKER ACTION

(Washington, D.C. November 1, 1999) -- The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today hailed a strategy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up big diesel trucks.

"Diesel trucks and other diesel engines are among the nation's biggest sources of smog, particle soot and toxic chemical emissions," noted , executive director of the Clean Air Trust. "Public health protection demands cleanup of dirty diesel engines."

THOUGHT-PROVOKING ARTICLES; QUESTIONS FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

The Washington Post examines Texas Gov. George W. Bush's clean-air record, while the New York Times explores massive environmental problems caused by giant hog farms. These articles have prompted us to suggest questions that might be appropriate for reporters to pose to presidential candidates.

EPA MOVES TO CLEAN UP BIG DIESEL TRUCKS

EPA moves against big diesel trucks. The agency proposes keeping standards set in 1997, but acknowledges the need to do much better in the future. The Clean Air Trust notes that big rigs are a major source of smog, soot and toxic air pollutants.

TRUST PUBLISHES BOOKLET ON DIESEL POLLUTION

Clean Air Trust publishes booklet on diesel trucks and fuel. The booklet notes that diesel trucks emit more soot and smog-causing pollution today than they did in 1970, when the Clean Air Act was passed! The booklet argues that we need low-sulfur diesel fuel, advanced emission control technology, and tough enforcement to address the problem.

TRUST WELCOMES AAA CALL FOR UTILITY CLEANUP, BUT NOTES VEHICLES ARE STILL BIG POLLUTION PROBLEM

"This blatantly political report appears aimed at derailing a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up cars, sport utility vehicles and dirty gasoline," said , executive director of the Clean Air Trust.

SENATORS LAUNCH AUTO/OIL INDUSTRY-INSPIRED ATTACK ON EPA CLEAN-CAR, CLEAN-GASOLINE STANDARDS

Parroting allegations made by General Motors Corp. and the oil industry, a Senate committee has launched a covert attack on an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to require cleaner cars and cleaner gasoline.

The Clean Air Trust charged that the Senate action "is nothing but another effort by General Motors and the oil industry to intimidate EPA.".

ADDITIONAL BULLETIN

Summer smog update . . . DOE parrots oil industry line on gasoline sulfur . . . EPA power plant compromise on life support . . . The good guys fight back in Congress . . . Startling new clean air research.

INHOFE PICKS MINING INDUSTRY LOBBYIST AS AIR HEAD

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has selected a mining industry lobbyist to head up his efforts to re-write the Clean Air Act. The President of the National Mining Association hailed the selection as one that would help the coal mining industry achieve "significant progress" towards its goals.

CLEAN AIR VILLAIN OF THE MONTH

Each month we will identify a company, association, or individual that we believe should be singled out for opprobrium for its anti-clean air activities. If you have candidates for this dishonorable distinction, please contact us. Meanwhile, read about this month's villain, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK).

DEBUNKING THE MYTH OF EMISSION TRADING
White Paper Calls for Halt to 'Flawed' Practice

(Washington, D.C. December 19, 2002) - Pollution trading -- heavily promoted by the Bush Administration as an alternative to the Clean Air Act -- has generally been a dismal failure, according to a landmark White Paper commissioned by the Clean Air Trust. Read the entire release.

QUOTATIONS FROM CHAIRMAN JIM

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) is expected to become chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in the new Congress. Inhofe is expected to launch an effort to "reform" the Clean Air Act.

To help evaluate any proposed "reforms," the Clean Air Trust has compiled some of Senator Inhofe's past comments on environmental protection. Read "Quotations from Chairman Jim."

WITH BUSH POISED TO WEAKEN AIR ENFORCEMENT, NEW SURVEY FINDS MASSIVE SMOG PROBLEM IN 2002

(Washington, D.C. September 30, 2002) - With the Bush Administration poised to weaken the Clean Air Act, a new survey by the Clean Air Trust shows massive smog problems across the United States in the summer just concluded. Read the entire release.

NEW EPA ANALYSIS LINKS DIESEL, LUNG CANCER

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that long-term exposure to exhaust from diesel engines likely causes lung cancer in humans and triggers a variety of other lung and respiratory illnesses. The health effects document bolsters the need to clean up diesel construction equipment and to continue cleanup of big diesel trucks and diesel fuel. More information is available at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=29060

PUBLIC OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTS BUSH 'CLEAR SKIES' PLAN; FAVORS ENFORCEMENT OVER 'CAP AND TRADE' APPROACH

(Washington, D.C. July 29, 2002) - The voting public overwhelmingly rejects the new, industry-friendly approach to air pollution control being touted by the Bush Administration, according to the results of a new national public opinion survey. Read the entire release.

PEW HIRES INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS TO ATTACK CLEAN AIR ENFORCEMENT

(Washington, D.C. July 25, 2002) - We were dumbstruck to learn yesterday that the Pew Center On Global Climate Change -- a nonprofit group that works with industry on "cooperative approaches" to "advance the debate" on climate change -- is issuing a report today critical of a key enforcement tool of the Clean Air Act -- new source review. Read the entire release.

DIESEL-SCAM!
Congressman Drafts Legislation to Make Taxpayers
Foot the Bill for Corporate Irresponsibility

(Washington, D.C. July 18, 2002) - A Georgia congressman has drafted legislation that would force taxpayers to pay the penalties for Caterpillar and other diesel engine makers who sell dirty diesel truck engines that fail to meet federal pollution standards. Read the entire release.

CLEAN AIR TRUST REACTS TO EPA MEDIA STUNT IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

(Washington, D.C. July 1, 2002) - The non-profit Clean Air Trust had the following reaction to today's media stunt by EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman:

"Ten months ago, EPA's professional staff concluded that 'business as usual' -- enforcement of the Clean Air Act -- would mean less pollution throughout the nation, including the Southeast, than would replacing the law with an Enron-style emission-trading scheme," noted , executive director of the Clean Air Trust. Read the entire release.

SENATE PANEL REJECTS BUSH DIRTY-AIR PLAN

(Washington, D.C. June 27, 2002) - In a "resounding defeat" for President Bush, a Senate committee today rejected the President's plan to weaken the Clean Air Act, the nonprofit Clean Air Trust said today. Read the entire release.

CLEAN AIR TRUST ASSAILS BUSH PLAN TO WEAKEN CLEAN AIR ACT ENFORCEMENT
Plan Would Create Loopholes, Threaten Enforcement

(Washington, D.C. June 13, 2002) - The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today assailed the Bush Administration's new plan to weaken the Clean Air Act. Read the entire release.

CLEAN AIR TRUST ASSAILS 'TROJAN HORSE' BUSH PLAN TO WEAKEN DIESEL TRUCK STANDARDS
Hails State Report on Dirty Diesel Loophole

(Washington, D.C. June 10, 2002) - The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today assailed what it called a "Trojan horse" plan by the Bush administration to weaken emission standards for big diesel trucks and buses. Read the entire release.

ENTERPRISE REPORTING ON OIL INDUSTRY AND DIRTY AIR
Industry Under-Reports Pollution;
EPA Mulls Weakening Diesel Truck Rule

(Washington, D.C. June 3, 2002) We want to call to your attention two outstanding pieces of enterprise reporting, both involving the oil industry and dirty air. Read the entire release.

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO SUE EPA TO TACKLE SMOG PROBLEM

(Washington, D.C. May 30, 2002) - Frustrated by "foot dragging" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a coalition of health and environmental groups today announced they'll take legal action to prod EPA to enforce new national health standards for ozone, or smog. Read the entire release.

CLEAN AIR TRUST ASSAILS CATERPILLAR LOBBYING TO ROLL BACK CLEAN-AIR CONTROLS
"Cheater" Company Tries Stealth Campaign with Congress, EPA

(Washington, D.C. April 9, 2002) - The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today assailed what it called a "stealth lobbying campaign" by Caterpillar, Inc. to delay pollution controls on diesel truck engines. Read the entire release.

WHY THE CLEAN AIR ACT NEEDS NEW SOURCE REVIEW

President Bush has proposed to repeal a critical component of the Clean Air Act, a component designed to achieve the law's key objectives, including protection of public health.

As a counter to the "spin" by the White House and its fund-raising friends in the energy industry, it might be useful to recall why and how Congress adopted this provision in the first place. The dispute is over "new source review" -- techno-speak for one of the 1970 Clean Air Act's most innovative provisions. Read the entire bulletin by Leon G. Billings, president of the Clean Air Trust.

APPEALS COURT REJECTS INDUSTRY CHALLENGES TO CLEAN AIR STANDARDS
Time for EPA to Stop Foot Dragging and Enforce Tougher Standards

(Washington, D.C. March 26, 2002) - A federal appeals court today rejected industry challenges to the national air quality standards for smog and soot set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1997, the nonprofit Clean Air Trust noted. Read the entire release.

EPA'S CREDIBILITY CRISIS
A Backgrounder on the Selling of the "Clear Lies Initiative"

(Washington, D.C. March 4, 2002) - Last week's widely publicized resignation by top Environmental Protection Agency enforcement official Eric Schaeffer dramatically underscored what one state environmental official has called the EPA's "credibility crisis." Read the entire release.

BUSH AIR PLAN A 'CYNICAL PR PLOY,' THE 'GHOST OF ENRON,' SAYS CLEAN AIR TRUST
Valentine's Day Massacre of the Clean Air Act

(Washington, D.C. February 14, 2002) - The nonprofit Clean Air Trust today called the Bush Administration's "multi-pollutant" air pollution plan a "cynical pr ploy" to distract public attention away from rollbacks of existing Clean Air Act requirements.

WHY EXXONMOBIL IS BLOWING SMOKE

In a recent "advertorial," ExxonMobil asserted that progress towards clean air has been achieved thanks to the goodwill and voluntary efforts of polluters like ExxonMobil. To learn the true story, prepared by Campaign ExxonMobil.

TRUST HAILS POLLUTION CLEAN-UP PACT BETWEEN EPA, PSEG POWER
Shows Need to Keep Strong New Source Review Program

(Washington, D.C. January 24, 2002) - The nonprofit Clean Air Trust hailed today's $300 million air pollution clean-up settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the state of New Jersey, and the Newark-based PSEG Power. Read the entire release.

EDISON ELECTRIC READIES DIRTY-AIR PLAN
Millions Would Remain in High-Soot Areas

(Washington, D.C. January 15, 2002) - Millions of Americans -- including residents of major Midwestern and Southeastern cities -- would continue to face dangerous levels of particle soot under a secret plan being readied by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). Read the entire release.

BOMBSHELL NEW RESEARCH: PARTICLE SOOT HARMS CHILDREN'S LUNGS AS MUCH AS 'ACTIVE' SMOKING
Polluters may get new lethal loopholes while public distracted by terrorism and war.

(Washington, D.C. December 14, 2001) - Exposure to particle soot could harm children's lungs as much as "active" smoking, according to air pollution researchers.

The researchers, from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, also found that changes in air pollution exposure during adolescence has a "measurable and potentially important effect on lung function growth and performance." Read the entire release.

STAFFORD URGES END TO DIESEL LOOPHOLE
Outlines Mobile Source Pollution Control Agenda

(Washington, D.C.) - The federal government should close the loophole that allows massive air pollution from big "non-road" diesel engines such as construction equipment, according to former Senator Robert T. Stafford (R-VT). Stafford, honorary chairman of the nonprofit Clean Air Trust, also called for pollution controls on existing big diesel trucks.

Stafford was a United States senator from Vermont from 1971 to 1989 and served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He set forth an agenda for the continuing cleanup of mobile sources of air pollution in an article in the fall edition of the Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, published by the University of Tennessee.

Stafford noted that control of pollution from automobiles "is one of the stellar accomplishments of the Clean Air Act." But he also noted that further cleanup of moving sources of pollution is needed to meet tougher national health standards for smog and soot.

Among his recommendations, Stafford called for:

SECRET EPA ANALYSIS SHOWS CURRENT CLEAN AIR ACT BETTER THAN "CAP AND TRADE" SCHEME

A secret EPA analysis shows that the current Clean Air Act generally would produce fewer emissions than a national "cap and trade" program drafted by the Bush Administration's EPA. The analysis, presented to the Edison Electric Institute, shows that dangerous sulfur dioxide emissions from electric power plants would be lower in every part of the country under "business as usual" (the current Clean Air Act) than under a draft EPA plan to eviscerate much of current law and replace it with a national cap-and-trade plan. Future coal burning also would be less under current law, suggesting carbon dioxide emissions would be less as well. The analysis shows that smog-forming nitrogen oxides emissions would be lower under current law in areas with smog problems (the Northeast, the Midwest, the Southeast and Texas). In addition, mercury emissions from coal-fired electric power plants would be reduced more quickly under current law.

To see the full EPA presentation you must have Microsoft's PowerPoint program. If you do have PowerPoint.

IN APPARENT REBUKE TO ASHCROFT, PUBLIC OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTS EASING ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT

(Washington, D.C. November 20, 2001) - In an apparent rebuke to Attorney General John Ashcroft, the American public overwhelmingly opposes easing environmental enforcement to "focus on threats like anthrax," according to a new national public opinion survey. Read the entire release.

AIR QUALITY TRENDS: WHAT EPA DIDN'T TELL YOU

(Washington, D.C. October 19, 2001) - We were intrigued at the news release issued late yesterday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding air quality trends in the nation (see http://www.epa.gov and note news releases for 10/18/01). Read our entire release to learn about a few things the EPA didn't tell you.

STATE LAWMAKERS TO EPA: DON'T WEAKEN OR DELAY CLEAN-DIESEL RULE

(Washington, D.C. August 30, 2001) - State lawmakers are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to resist efforts to weaken or delay standards to clean up diesel trucks and buses and diesel fuel. Read the entire release.