TESTIMONY BY DONALD L. GURNEY AT 

US EPA PUBLIC HEARING ON 

CARBON POLLUTION PROTECTIONS FOR NEW POWER PLANTS 

FEBRUARY 6, 2014 

My name is Donald Gurney. I am testifying in support of the proposed EPA standards for 

carbon pollution for new power plants. 

By way of background, I am a retired Air Force Officer and Defense Contractor. I am 

also a Vietnam War and cold war veteran. In all I have spent over 45 years committed to 

defending the United States from foreign enemies. Now, I am concerned that carbon 

pollution driven climate change threatens the national security of the United States and 

the future quality of life for my two daughters and the next generation. 

I have had over 40 years experience as an intelligence analyst. Therefore I fmd it quite 

importance that Intelligence Community's The National Intelligence Council has 

identified climate change as a significant National Security Issue. It has approved several 

reports assessing impact of climate change. Here are some of the key judgments from 

these assessments: 

• By 2020 climate change will result in more water shortages, poor water quality 

and more severe floods. This will likely to result in higher unemployment, 

increased social tension, strain on infiastructure and increased instability in key 

areas. 

• By 2030 many countries are likely to face severe drought deforestation, shifting 

agricultural patterns, mass migration, severe stonns and coastal flooding. These 

problems are likely to increase threats to global food production, as well as 

increase the risk of instability, state failure and increased regional tensions. 

• Coastal regions will be increasingly vulnerable to flooding, storm surge, and sea 

level rise. 

While these intelligence estimates focus on foreign countries, we are already seeing some 

of these same problems developing here in the United States. 

• Here in Virginia we are already facing the threat of sea level rise and coastal 

flooding. The Hampton Roads — Norfolk — Virginia Beach area continues to 

experience the highest rates of sea-level rise on the East Coast. For the past 

several years local, state and federal govenunent organizations have been working 

with private citizens to counter these threats. 

• This year Califomia is enduring a record drought. Last month Govemor Brown 

declared a drought emergency and requested that Californians voluntarily cut their 

water consumption by 20%. Moreover in an unprecedented move, the California 
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Department of Water Resources (DWR) stated that it will not send any water 

from the state's vast reservoir system to local agencies beginning this spring. 

According to news reports, these measures will affect drinking water supplies for 

25 million Americans and irrigation for 1 million acres of farmland. 

• Closer to home, ray family has owned a small farm in northern Illinois for 

generations. Because of the increasing number and severity of droughts and 

pressure from our seed corn provider, 10 years ago we were forced to install an 

expensive irrigation system. This has preserved our crops from drought several 

times. 

Severe weather is also disrupting life in the US. 

• Over the past few years in my Arlington neighborhood I have experienced more 

severe storms which have knocked down more trees and caused more power 

outages than I have seen in the past 30 years. 

In 2010 my sister's life in Shorewood WI was disrupted by an all time record 

thunderstorm that dumped 7.5 inches of rain in just 2 hours. This totally 

overloaded the town sewer system and resulted in water running 4-5 feet deep in 

the streets near her house. The first floor of my sister's house was flooded as were 

all the units in her condo development. Besides having to make expensive repairs 

to her home, it took two years to resolve her damage claims with the insurance 

companies. 

In conclusion, I firmly believe that strong carbon pollution standards on new power 

plants are an essential step in trying to slow and mitigate climate change. I also believe 

that strong carbon pollution standards are needed for existing power plants and other 

major sources of carbon pollution. 

Very Respectfully, 

"4- ce-'I 

Donald L. Gumey 

1005 N. Larrimore St 

Arlington, VA 22205-1412 

703-534-1282 
NATIONAL INTELLIGNCE COUNCIL PUBLICATIONS 

SPECIAL PRODUCTS 

• 2012: Global Water Securitv: Intelliaence Communitv Assessment 

• 2012: Global Water Securitv Maq 

• 2009: The Imqact of Climate Chanae to 2030 Commissioned Research and 

Conference Retaorts 

COMMISSIONED RESEARCI-I REPORTS 

• ('hinii: I he Iillnact (lfTlimate ('hanuc: to {} 

• Incjia: "1'he linnact oi' ('limate Chanue to ?! 

• Russia: 'Che Imnact ot'C'limate C'hanue ta i oldout 

• Southeast Asia and Pacitic Islands: 'I'he Imnact oi'C'iiinate C'hanue tn 203(} 

• North Ai'rica: "f'he Imnact ofClimtttc- Chan ~Te to 2010 

• Mexico. 'l'he t'arihhean. and Centrrtl America: '1'he Imnact oC Climttte C'han+Te to 2030 

CONFERENCE REPORTS 

•2010 Conk-. ~ nce Renort Southeast Asia "1'he Imntict oPClimate C'httnLe to 2030 

•?(1 10 C'onterence Reneirt Mexico ('arihhe.in C'entral America C'limtite C'h.tnt'e 2030 

o ;'nnlerence Rencirt Russia "T'he Imn<ict of'('limate Chanee to 2030 

~ 6 ilj* C'emterence Renort i`Jorth Af'rica 'I'lhe Iinnact a1'Cliniate C'han+_=e to 2030 

~ ~K► C'cmter-ence lZenort lndia "T'he (mnact ot'C'limttte C'hanut ta 2030 

~ '~ ~~ lk) C'onterence Renort C'hina 'I'he Imnact ofC'iim , ~ — Chan+se ta 2030 

Link to National Intelligence Council Publications web page: 

htto://www.dni.aovlindex.ahD/about/oraanization/national-intelliaence-council-nicoublications