Clean Air Act cut: Parks, nature face ‘largest attack’

Activists from the Sierra Club, the Clean Air Council, and Greenpeace did their part yesterday in protest of a bill in Congress that would have broad sweeping consequences for the environment.

A group biked down the Schuylkill River path, ending their trip at U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr.’s Center City office. An appropriations bill for federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency would cut funding by as much as 18 percent.

“This is the largest attack on air, water, land, and wildlife in decades,” William Kramer of the Sierra Club said. “Although polls show most Americans care about the environment and pollution, the elected officials are on the pay roll of who will pay their campaign contributions.”

Wearing breathing masks displaying “Brought to you by Big Coal”, they called for Casey to oppose these federal budget provisions. The display was in reference to the proposed changes to the Clean Air Act; in which the EPA will be restricted in their ability to enforce safeguards on coal ash disposal as well as control carbon pollution.

Casey was not available when the group arrived and they were informed that he was still “considering” his options.