EPA Presentation-July 29, 2013 

According to Bank of America, the United States has now 

surpassed Saudi Arabia as the world's largest oil producer. At 

what price? 

June 2014 was the third month in a row in which carbon dioxide 

levels in our atmosphere topped an average of 400 parts per 

million-a level not seen on Earth in at least 800,000 years. Scary, 

right? 

I think it is high time that the federal government and all 50 states 

adopt regulations to curb the emission of greenhouse gases. I strongly 

support the proposed rules by the EPA to reduce carbon dioxide 

emissions from existing and future electric power plants and to foster 

increased use of green energy and increased energy efficiencies. 

It is worth noting that 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 disproportionately on poor 

communities, causing respiratory problems, heart attacks, and death. 

To me, the overriding reason for reducing the emissions from power 

plants is to counter the 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 nothing to modify how we generate and use energy and operate 

our farms, we would soon be faced with serious economic and health 

risks that would significantly escalate with each passing year. 
I am here to speak about global warming because I am concerned 

about our future. My concern stems from my reading about climate 

science and from my religious faith. One of my religious principles is 

respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we 

humans are a part. To live sustainably on this earth is a moral 

imperative. And we have a fiduciary responsibility to deliver a safe 

atmosphere and climate to future generations. 

I recently saw the highly acclaimed documentary movie Chasing Ice, 

which came out in 2012 and which documents by means of time-lapse 

photography how global warming causes glaciers in Iceland, Greenland 

and Alaska to erode and disappear. I cannot think of a 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 I strongly support the proposed EPA rules, it is clear to me that 

they are just an important and necessary first step. To quote James 

Hansen, who wrote in April of this 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 

century to at most 350 ppm." 

I am just a concerned citizen and do not have any special expertise. But 

I would like to suggest that the EPA make every effort to 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 policies that I would like the federal 

government to adopt and implement to avert climate threats. They 
probably go beyond the EPA's current mandate, but I feel compelled 

nevertheless to mention them here: 

• End all subsidies for the coal mining industry which 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 of American 

business. I am convinced that we can have strong economic growth at 

the same time that we slow and eventually halt anthropogenic climate 

change. 

Bert H. Schuster 

Buford, GA 

bertschuster@att.net