Press release:
Senator Van Duyn files Bill to protest the loosening of Toxic Air Pollution Regulations
Raleigh, N.C. – On Monday, June 13, North Carolina Senate Democratic Whip Terry Van Duyn (D-Buncombe) filed SB 895 to protest recent North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rule changes that will exempt “small emitters” from permit requirements for toxic industrial polluters.
These changes would allow 1,200 facilities in North Carolina to be exempted from permit requirements. “Small emitters” include industrial polluters with actual emissions of up to five tons of specified pollutants per year and total aggregate emissions of 10 tons per year.
“What we know about air pollution is that it exacerbates asthma in children and is implicated in a host of chronic diseases later in life,” Sen. Van Duyn said. “Half of these facilities are within one mile of a school or hospital. Compromising public health, especially when it comes to children, is bad public policy.”
Sen. Van Duyn is joined by a coalition of physicians, healthcare professionals and clean air advocates, concerned that lack of oversight will endanger the health of North Carolina citizens.
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