EPA Presentation-July 29, 2013 According to Bankof America, the UnitedStates has now surpassedSaudiArabia as the world's largest oilproducer. At what price? June 2014 was the thirdmonth in a row in which carbon dioxide levels in ouratmosphere toppedan average of400partsper million-a level notseen on Earth in atleast800,000years. Scary, right?
Ithink it is high timethatthe federal government and all 50 states adopt regulations to curb the emission ofgreenhouse gases. I strongly support the proposed rules by the EPA to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing and future electric power plants and tofoster increased use ofgreen energy and increased energy efficiencies.
It is worth notingthat in recent years a large number of coal-fired power plants were either shut down or have been scheduled for retirement. Older plants especially were, or still are, a source of harmful pollution, often falling disproportionatelyon poor communities, causing respiratory problems, heartattacks, and death.
To 

### me, the overriding reason for reducing the emissions from power plants is to counterthe effects of human-induced climate change. In many countries we are already experiencing extreme weather conditions caused by climate disruption, such as severe drought, wildfires, record heat, and super storms like hurricanes and typhoons. If
we did nothingto modify how we generate and use energy and operate
ourfarms, we would soon be faced with serious economic and health risks that would significantly escalate with each passing year.I am hereto speak about global warming because I am concerned about ourfuture. Myconcern stems from my reading about climate science and from my religious faith. One of my religious principles is respect forthe interdependent web ofall existence ofwhich we humans are a part. To live sustainably on this earth is a moral imperative. And we have afiduciary responsibility to deliver asafe atmosphere and climate tofuture generations.
I recently saw the highly acclaimed documentary movie Chasing Ice, which came out in 2012 and which documents by means oftime-lapse photography how global warming causes glaciers in Iceland, Greenland and Alaska to erode and disappear. I cannot think ofa more compelling wake-up call. This documentary shows us that drastic, palatable climate change is already happening; the glaciers are disappearing with alarming speed. While Istrongly supportthe proposed EPA rules, it is clear to me that they arejust an important and necessary first step. To quoteJames Hansen, who wrote in April ofthis year: "atmospheric 

### C02 today is already in the dangerous zone, and the government should present a plan to reduce fossil fuel emissions and increase carbon uptake by the land and biosphere at rates required to reduce atmospheric 

### C02 this centuryto at most 350 ppm."
Iam just a concerned citizen and do not have any special expertise. But Iwould like to suggest thatthe EPA make every effortto regulate hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas so as to reduce leakage of methane and prevent ground water pollution.

In addition, there are a number of policiesthat Iwould like thefederal governmentto adopt and implementto avert climate threats. Theyprobably go beyond the EPA's current mandate, but Ifeel compelled neverthelessto mention them here:

• End all subsidies forthe coal mining industrywhich is helped by low-priced leases on federal lands and indirect supports for exports. • Stop awarding leases for offshore oil and gas drilling.
• Do not permit drilling in the Arctic. • Regulate hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas so as to reduce leakage of methane and prevent ground water pollution.
• Create incentives for corporations and businesses to innovate and profitably develop alternative energy sources.
I have a lot of respect 

### for, and faith in, the ingenuity ofAmerican business. Iam convinced that we can have strong economic growth at the same timethat we slow and eventually halt anthropogenic climate change.
Bert H. Schuster Buford, GA bertschuster@att.net