Tracey McFadden's Testimony 

May 24,2012 

U.S. EPA Office Chicago IL 

Contact information: 

Address: 

41W754 Bowgren Drive 

Elburn, JL 60119 

E-mail: TracerSOO@comcast.net 

Good Morning, 

My name is Tracey McFadden, I am an airline captain based here in 

Chicago. Before I begin I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak 

on this very important issue, creating limits on carbon pollution from 

coal- fired power plants. I feel this new standard will have a 

monumental impact on the health and well being of every American. I 

also want to mention that I very much appreciate the work the EPA is 

doing on a day-to-day basis to improve the health of all Americans. I 

realize it is a tireless and many times thankless job. 

By taking this historic step of creating the first ever limits on carbon 

pollution from new power plants, the EPA would be protecting myself, 

my family,my grandchildren and all of our grandchildren from harm. 

The harm comes in the form not only of the air pollution but global 

warming. Our planet is reaching a crisis stage of which there is no 

return. Only by taking an aggressive approach to climate change can we 

protect ourselves. I see limiting carbon pollution from new power 

plants as just such a step. This is our "putting a man on the moon 

moment". We can solve pollution as well as climate change problems 

we only need the will to do so. The EPA is showing they have the will. 

This is a huge challenge for all Americans, to take the steps needed to 

ensure a clean healthy future for our children. I can see that the 

leadership provided by the EPA will spill over into many other areas. 

The EPA is setting the standard and the example. This action will not 

only solve one problem it will motivate others to action. These actions 

include reducing consumption and encouraging the use of renewable 
McFadden Testimony p. 2 

energy such as solar and wind. It also shows that the EPA is on the side 

of the all Americans without taking any political position. 

It is critical that the EPA be the enforcers of pollution standards. All 

Americans depend on our government to protect us from potential 

harm. As an Air Force pilot I was called to duty during the first Gulf war, 

I felt it my duty to protect our country just as today the EPA is called to 

serve our country in its time of need. There are areas of our society 

which cannot be self policed. The underlying motive for a power plant 

is profit so it is understandable that they cannot put public health first, 

it will have to be a distant second. It is the duty of the EPA to protect the 

public. 

By creating limits on carbon pollution this is not hampering the 

power plants ability to carry out their business. It is just a business 

constraint like all others in a business such as the cost of building 

materials, labor, recurring costs etc. American ingenuity and know how 

will allow power plants to functionlhey all must just play by a set of 

rules. As long as everyone plays by the same rule book no one plant is at 

any advantage or disadvantage over any other. There is no harm to any 

business when the playing field is level. 

As a nation we must move away from our dependence on coal. 

The negative effects on our environment and the health of our citizens 

due to coal pollution cannot be overstated. The proposal to create limits 

on carbon pollution on coal-fired plants is a "giant leap for mankind". I 

cannot thank you enough for these new protections being considered 

and I fully support all of your efforts.