:1: AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION® I Fighting for Air 

AlbertA Rizzo, M.D. 

Chair 

National Board of Directors 

Ross P. Lanzafame, Esq. 

Chair-Elect 

National Board of Directors 

H. James Gooden 

Past-Chair 

Christine L. Bryant 

SecretaryfTreasurer 

Geri Reinardy, M.P.A. 

Speaker 

Nationwide Assembly 

Marcia D. Williams, Ed.D. 

Speaker-Elect 

Nationwide Assembly 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 

Charles D. Connor 

President & 

Chief Executive Officer 

130 I Pennsylvania Ave., NW 

Suite 800 

Washington, DC 20004- 1725 

Phone: (202) 785-3355 

Fax: (202) 452-1805 

14Wall St. 

Suite 8C 

New York, NY I 0005-21 13 

Phone: (2 12) 3 15-8700 

Fax: (212) 608-3219 

www.LungUSA.org 

May 24, 2012 

American Lung Association Supports New Carbon Pollution Standards 

Statement of Paul G. Billings 

Vice President, National Policy & Advocacy 

American Lung Association 

Good morning, I am Paul Billings, Vice President National Policy & Advocacy for the 

American Lung Association. The American Lung Association is pleased to support the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed standards for carbon pollution from 

power plants. This rule is setting the stage for the next generation of America's power 

plants to be the least toxic and most modern in the world. 

The American Lung Association believes that power plants should not be allowed to 

emit unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into the air. Scientists warn t hat the 

buildup of carbon pollution will create warmer temperatures which will increase the risk 

of unhealthful smog levels. Any increase in smog means more childhood asthma attacks 

and complications for those with lung disease. 

Addressing carbon pollution will help protect public health. Higher temperatures can 

enhance the conditions for ozone formation. Even with the steps that are in place to 

reduce ozone, evidence warns that changes in climate are likely to increase the risk of 

unhealthy ozone levels in the future in large parts of the United States. To protect 

human health, the nation needs strong measures to reduce climate change and ozone. 

The proposed standards for power plants are an important first step to address large 

stationary sources contribution to climate change. 

Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is a form of oxygen. Commonly known as smog, 

ozone is a pervasive air pollutant that forms in the atmosphere when hydrocarbon 

vapors react with oxides of nitrogen in t he presence of sunlight and heat. The American 

Lung Association State of the Air report shows that more than 115 million of Americans 

live in areas where the air is unhealthy beca use of ozone air pollution. The report is 

based on the 75 ppb ozone standard, a standard that t he science shows is clearly too 

high to protect public health. If President Obama and EPA had followed the law and the 

science, the ozone standard would be much lower- and more protective of more 

people. 

When a person inhales ozone, it reacts chemically with the body's internal tissues 

ca using inflammation, like "sunburn," of the lung. Ozone acts as a powerful respiratory 

irritant at the levels found frequently across the nation. Breathing ozone may lead to 

serious harm to health, including: 

• premature death; 

• shortness of breath and chest pain; 

• wheezing and coughing; 
• inflammation of the lining of the lungs; 

• increased susceptibility to respiratory infections; 

• increased risk of asthma attacks; and 

• increased need for medical treatment and hospitalization for people with lung 

diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

Children who regularly breathe high levels of ozone may face reduced lung function in adulthood. Reduced lung 

function increases the risk of lung disease later in life. 

Most at risk are: 

• People with lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema; 

• Children-because their airways are smaller, their respiratory defenses are not fully formed, and 

their higher breathing rates increase their exposure; 

• People who work or exercise outdoors; 

• Adults 65 years old and older; and 

• "Responders" -otherwise healthy individuals who experience health effects at lower levels of 

exposure than the average person. 

In sum, ozone air pollution is a serious health threat that impacts millions of Americans. 

We urge EPA to strengthen the carbon pollution proposal in several key ways. 

To ensure the next generation of power plants is the most modern and least toxic, we urge EPA to adopt a 

tighter than 1000 lb/MwH C02 standard, reflecting achievements of the best performing plants in operation 

today. 

We urge EPA to set a standard for simple cycle turbines. 

We urge EPA to establish a firm "sunset" date for the alternative compliance mechanism option, excluding all 

plants built after a specific date. We urge strong enforcement provisions for those operators failing to meet 

either compliance option. 

We will discuss all these issues in greater detail in our technical comments that the American lung Association 

will file next month. 

Finally, EPA needs to get to work on establishing a standard for existing sources. Anything less shortchanges our 

kids and shortchanges our health. 

Thank you. 

For media requests, please contact Mary Havell at mary.havell@lung.org or (202) 715-3459.