SENATOR WENDY R DAVIS Oostnct 10 

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# §§.enat.e uf Wq.e ff§tat.e of W.exas COMMITIEES Educatoon International Relahons & Trade TransportahOn & Homeland Secunty Veteran Affaors & Mohtary lnstallatoons

Draft Comments for EPA Hearing on Air Pollution Standards for Cement Plants August 16, 2012; Arlington City Hal l Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important matter today. All of us who are fortunate enough to serve the public in either elected or appointed capacities have been entrusted with certain significant responsibilities. Among the most compelling of these responsibilities is the protection of public health . Because I take that responsibility seriously, I must express my deep reservations about the E.P.A.'s proposed relaxation of toxic air pollution standards on cement plants. I take seriously the fact that I represent over 800, 000 people who live downwind from what we understand to be the greatest concentration of cement manufacturing in the country, located in Midlothian. That population includes young chi ldren i n critical stages of physical development and elderly citizen s, some of whom are already battling debilitating, chronic health chal l enges. De laying the implementation of new rules for pollution control by two years and weakening particulate matter standards will needless ly expose those vulnerable individuals to serious health risks. I dare say that most of my constituents are unaware of their proximity to the cement plants and the preva iling winds that blow the cement pol l ution their way . But they do know that they, and/or their family members, are making more trips to the doctor and hospital emergency rooms becau se of asthma or other breathing difficulties. The Community-wide Children's Health Assessment and Planning Survey (CCHAPS) conducted by Cook Children's Hospital in 2009 demonstrated the likelihood of a causal link between the cement plants' pollution and the prevalence of asthma in our region . The survey revealed that 18.6% of children in Tarrant County , 

### i.e., almost one in five, suffer from asthma . That rate far exceeds the state and national averages . Another shocking finding is that 27% of school absences lasting three days or longer are due to asthma. Since school funding relates directly to attendance, it has been calculated that asthma re lated absences are costing the public schools in our region an estimated total of twelve million dollars annually. The CCHAPS survey notes that children with asthma are much more likely than their asthma -free peers to suffer from other health problems, be limited in their activities, and have problems in school. We know all too well the life-limiting effects of the failure to finish school for those unfortunate children who drop-o ut. Given the elevated rates of childhood asthma in our region, and the correlation of higher rates with closer proximity to cement plants, it is hard not to come to the conclusion that these plants contribute to our children's illness.

PO
. Box 12068 Austin , Texas 787 11

(512) 463-0110 FAX : (5 1 2) 475·3745 Dtal 7 11 For Relay Calls E- Mail : wendy.davls@senate. state .tx. us 2421 W. 7th . Suite 131 . Building A Fort Worth , Texas 76107 (817) 332-3338 FAX : (817) 332- 1230Of course, adults are also victimized by bad ai r quality and we need to consider the effect on our local economy of an unhealthy workforce
. A two-year delay in implementing the cement plant rules could result in as many as 260 ,000 days of missed work nation -wide , not to mention thousands of asthma attacks, heart attacks and even premature deaths . It is especial ly difficult to understand these proposed rules changes knowing that we have a longstand i ng air pol l ution problem in the D/FW Metroplex and that we, in fact, remain in non-compliance with federally mandated air quality standards. If our region is to remain competitive in attracting new businesses and the expansion of existing ones, and if we are to maintain a quality of life that is welcoming for families, we simply must clean our air now . Why re lax rules that would actually reduce the poisons in our air? It is, therefore, reasonable to question the w isdom of weakening and delaying the implementation of stricter rules on the toxic emissions from cements plants. All of us who take seriously our responsibil ities to serve and protect the public shou ld urge the E. P.A.'s careful reconsideration ofthe proposed changes in rules for cement manufacturers
. The health of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable , must not be comprised. Sincere ly,

# iJ~/2**~~** Wendy R . Davis