### 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 CaliforniaA W) ., 1 (1, 1 A ZO 0 'f 8

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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 703-534-1282NATIONAL 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