The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a proposed Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to address regional haze in Montana. The FIP will adress air pollution in Montana and neighboring states.
Make your voice heard. EPA is taking comments on a draft regional haze plan for Montana. Under the Clean Air Act, the plan should ensure that old industrial sources, like coal plants and cement kilns, install modern, cost-effective air pollution controls to control haze causing pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulate pollution. Clean-up at large pollution sources is essential to minimizing haze pollution in our most cherished places — Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, and wilderness areas including the Bob Marshall, Gates of the Mountains, Scapegoat, North Absaroka, and many more. Clearing the haze will help the economy and provide undeniable and important public health protections.
EPA’s proposal for Montana’s two cement kilns requires sufficient pollution reductions, but the plan does little to nothing at Pennsylvania Power & Light’s two coal plants in Colstrip and Billings. It is time for PPL to catch up to industry standards. Over 230 coal-fired power plants have installed modern pollution controls – technology similar to a catalytic converter on your car that keeps dangerous haze pollution out of the air. With the nearly $1 billion in profits that PPL made in 2010, it can afford to do better. Montanans deserve nothing less.
Read MEIC’s Fact Sheet on Regional Haze
Helena
- Tuesday, May 1 at the Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch
- 1 p.m until 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
You can learn more by reading the proposed FIP.