EPA Hearing Testimony \,._ ~--- __ 

Honorable Panel Members, Fm':America:~\ 

My name is Dr" Pamela Sanders Ellis and lliVI§i in the Eastem.Panhandle of West Virginia" l have w 

as a chemist,, and am now in education research, and have written the book, Climate Controversy 2013 

for secondary students and a general audience with three of our nation's top climate scientists, George 

Woodwell, John Abraham, and Michael McCracken. 

As a youth, growing up in the capital dty of Charleston, West Virginia, I reca!! happy days of playing with 

friends in the woods filled with healthy streams on the mountains where I lived" The water was filied 

with aquatic life, turtles, frogs, fish and a variety of plant life" it was there I first developed my 

understanding of an interdependence with the earth and community. 

Unfortunately, i, was also aware and witnessed first-hand air & water pollution in the Kanawha Valley 

and relentless examples of strip mining and black lung disease cases in West Virginia affecting friends 

and neighbors with anthropogenic causes despite the EPA's best efforts. 

While in high school, my first job, was with Union Carbide Chemicals in Institute, WV where l as 

an Industrial Hygienist Assistant during the summer of my junior yearo i was given an ozone analyzer by 

company officials and OSHA regulations to read, which also involved spending considerable time 

air quality samples in the neighborhoods near the plant site. 

I went on to major in Chemistry, and later completed doctoral work in the field of higher educatior~o So 

from these experiences, I understood both the important roles of environmental protection and 

economic employment opportunity. 

Joining, today, with concerned citizens across the I ask the EPA of the States of America 

to boldly lead the revelation and revolution necessary that will, finally, put us on a sustainable path to a 

hopeful climate future. By working closely the Occupational and the 

EPA has a Congressional mandate to provide regulations, which are strictly enforced with inspections, 

investigations and, legal actions extending to the very corporate managers in industry who 

the adequate standards that protect our health and environment. 

to meet 

lt is not surprising that ! am of firm conviction that we must take the strongest stand possible on the side 

of science and accountability by protecting our climate disruption outcomes. Our leading climate 

scientists and environmentalists are now our staunchest po!!tk:a! activists, including Jim Hansen from 

NASA and Bill McKibben from 350.org who ! join in shouts that 80 to 90 percent reductions in fossil fuel 

usage and carbon emissions are the targets most warranted instead of 

reductions proposed by 2030. 

current modest 

Political debates of fossil fuel dependency continue unabated without adequate innovative rt>t1P\i%i::li"H«> 

energy installations" A divestment from fossil fuels and reinvestments in renewable ener~t sources and 

infrastructure is the transition that the EPA needs to encourage for all A.mericans to do the same. 

We pledge our nonpartisan support for the economic opportunity of air and are 

the EPA every step of the way towards this goaL Your firm commitment and efforts toward U.S" global 

leadership and implementation a Change Carbon Emission for 

generations to come are ultimately the prerequisites for civilization as we have known it. i want to 

believe that every EPA employee make sure that the job is done! you ..