http://www.environmentnewmexico.org/newsroom/clean-air-news/clean-air-news http://www.environmentnewmexico.org/newsroom/clean-air-news/clean-air-news/steve-pearce-no-friend-to-new-mexican-drivers Albuquerque, NM - During his time in Congress, Steve Pearce has opposed policies to save New Mexicans money on gasoline, reduce traffic, and reduce air pollution according to an analysis released by Environment New Mexico today. “For decades, Big Oil, the automakers, the highway lobby and other powerful interests have held sway over transportation policy in Washington, D.C. Now, America’s drivers and our environment are paying the price,” said Ivan Frishberg for Environment New Mexico. “Steve Pearce has consistently sided with Big Oil and other powerful interests on issue after issue important to New Mexico drivers.” In their online publication discussing how outdated transportation policy in Washington DC keeps New Mexico hooked on oil and stuck in traffic, Environment New Mexico documented that the representative has been a consistent no vote on transportation issues. Specifically, Steve Pearce: • Opposed increases in fuel economy standards for cars that will save New Mexicans at the pump, cut oil consumption in New Mexico, and reduce global warming pollution. • Opposed incentives for plug-in hybrid cars that can get up to 100 mpg. If run on clean electricity, plug-in hybrids can reduce air pollution that puts the health of 1.4 million New Mexican residents at risk. • Opposed legislation to invest in improving America’s passenger rail system, which can provide a cleaner alternative to the hassles of flying and driving. • Took $46,650 in campaign contributions from the oil industry during the 2007-2008 Congress. Environment New Mexico’s report pointed out that the state faces big transportation challenges, including congestion, pollution, and the high cost of gas. The group advocates for meeting those challenges by using existing technology to make cars and trucks that use less gas and produce less pollution, relieving pressure on overcrowded roads by providing transportation choices such as modern public transit to more Americans, and taking advantage of clean, alternative sources of energy. “By electing Tom Udall, New Mexico drivers can ensure that they have a champion in Congress who will stand up to the auto industry, Big Oil and other powerful interests and work for real solutions to safeguard drivers’ pocketbooks, clean up our air, and keep New Mexico moving,” Frishberg concluded. The complete report can be found at: http://www.environmentnewmexico.org/reports/election-2008-reports2/election-2008-reports/rep.-pearce-bad-for-drivers-and-our-air # # # http://www.environmentnewmexico.org/newsroom/clean-air-news/clean-air-news/steve-pearce-no-friend-to-new-mexican-drivers Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:09:03 -0500 http://www.environmentnewmexico.org/newsroom/clean-air-news/clean-air-news/environment-new-mexico-denounces-epa-smog-clean-air-act-announcements Albuquerque, NM —The Bush EPA this evening announced a flawed new national air quality standard for ozone “smog” and called for sweeping changes to the Clean Air Act that threaten to fundamentally weaken one of the nation’s most important environmental laws, according to Environment New Mexico. “Ozone can harm even the healthiest lungs, but today’s decision will leave many Americas at risk of asthma attacks and other health problems from breathing dirty air,” said Randall Coleman, Associate with Environment New Mexico. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), a group of expert outside scientists who advise the EPA Administrator on air quality standards, unanimously recommended that EPA issue an ozone standard no greater than 0.070 parts per million (ppm), but EPA Administrator Johnson this evening announced a new standard of 0.075 ppm. No previous administration has ever rejected the CASAC’s scientific advice. The Bush EPA also ignored the CASAC’s advice last year in setting a new standard for fine particle “soot” pollution. In addition, under the guise of “modernizing” the Clean Air Act, the EPA Administrator called for fundamental changes to the law, including requiring implementation costs to be considered in setting air quality standards and allowing states and local areas to ignore air pollution problems. The Clean Air Act requires air quality standards to be set based solely on a pollutant’s impacts on public health, a matter of science - not consideration of the potential costs of implementation of the standard. “The Bush EPA has been doing industry’s bidding for seven years, but this takes the cake. These changes would strike at the heart of the Clean Air Act and take us back decades in protecting Americans from air pollution,” said Coleman. Ozone is a powerful pollutant that can burn our lungs and airways, causing health effects ranging from coughing and wheezing to asthma attacks and even premature death. Children, senior citizens, and people with lung disease are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of ozone. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must set air quality standards at levels that protect public health, including sensitive populations, with an adequate margin of safety. Many industries have been lobbying furiously in recent weeks for a weak ozone standard and have long sought major changes to the Clean Air Act. http://www.environmentnewmexico.org/newsroom/clean-air-news/clean-air-news/environment-new-mexico-denounces-epa-smog-clean-air-act-announcements Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:20:42 -0500