Protecting Wild I ife_for our childrensfuture

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### W LDLI FE FEDERATION



### Formal Comments Submitted to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Denver Hearing: July 30, 2014 RE: Clean Power Plan
Thank you for the opportunity to submit formal testimony regarding EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan. My name is Beth Pratt and I am the California Director of the National Wildlife Federation. I am here today from my home on the border of Yosemite National Park to express my strong support for EPA's historic action to combat climate change by setting limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants. We have an obligation to protect our children and future generations from the impacts of climate change. We also have an obligation to protect wildlife and our natural resources upon which we all depend that are on the frontlines of our changing climate. Our warming climate is posing one of the greatest threats to wildlife today, and as a wildlife enthusiast and nature lover, I applaud EPA for taking action to combat the root of the problem – carbon pollution. I have witnessed the damage of extreme weather fueled by climate change in California. In Yosemite— one of the best protected places on the planet—climate change is taking its toll on both people and wildlife. Last year, the Rim Fire, partially fueled by the impacts of climate change, burned 402 squares miles and threatened two of Yosemite's ancient groves of Giant Sequoia trees, and destroyed vital habitat for the rare Yosemite Great Grey owl and other wildlife. Over half of the small mammal species in Yosemite have moved their habitat range as compared to earlier in the century, mostly due to the hotter and drier conditions created by rising temperatures. Elsewhere in California, salmon are having to be trucked to their spawning grounds because of dry rivers, bears are emerging from hibernation early only to find no food, and sea lions are experiencing increased pup mortality and strandings. In a report released last year, the California EPA warned that climate change posed an "immediate and growing threat" to the wildlife in the state. California possesses a remarkable range of wild places and wildlife, and of any state in America, ranks as having the highest total number of species and highest number of endemic species. California also houses one of the world's twenty-five most vulnerable biological hotspots, and ranks second in the United States for the number of endangered species within its borders. Climate change is putting this special natural heritage at risk. I applaud EPA for taking much needed steps to reverse the course we are on. The U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan is a major step in the right direction. This plan will help speed the way towards a future inwhich we invest more in wildlife-friendly sources of clean energy and less in fuels that pollute our air

and water and harm our global climate. By reducing reliance on coal-burning for power generation in the U.S., the Clean Power Plan will help protect wildlife by reducing not only carbon pollution but other harmful pollutants like mercury that poison fish and threaten all those who eat them. This rule will reduce the need for more coal mining that's destroying precious wildlife habitat. And it will reduce the number of leaking toxic coal waste ponds that put our lakes and rivers in harm's way. As you finalize the standard, I ask that you work to ensure that it achieves the deepest reductions possible by requiring states to use wildlife-friendly renewable energy and energy efficiency, and not simply more natural gas burning. California can and should do more to generate power from renewable sources like wind and solar and reduce energy demand through energy efficiency. EPA should strengthen the standard to reflect this potential. Thank you for the opportunity to comment today, and we look forward to working with you to finalize and implement the Clean Power Plan. We hope you will do everything you can to ensure it stays strong through the process - wildlife and future generations are counting on your leadership.

Thank you in advance and please let us know if you have any questions!

Beth Pratt, California Director, NWF