TestimonyofEdward

### J. Zygmunt 890 Beech Grove Road

Laceyville, PA 18623 570-869-2353

**perennni.<llacres@"-Q.ix.n~** August 1, 2014 Re: Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602 Carbon Pollution Standardfor Modified Sources Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-3013-0630 

### *********** I speak to you today as someone whose family has had a historic relationship with the coal industry. Unfortunatelyour relationship has not been apositiveone. Both of my grandfatherswere coal miners in Luzerne County intheearly 20th century. I never met my paternalgrandfather because he died a slow, agonizing death from black lung before I was born. My only remembrance of my maternal grandfatherwas lyingon his bed gaspingforair as he was attached toan oxygen tank. I still remember as a small child the local coal company dumping their waste culm in a huge heap behind my grandparent's home. The coal companies did so because there were no regulations in place to stop them. This huge culm pile still stains the stream that flows lifelessly through my hometown. Yes, history has vividly shown us what happens when the necessary regulations to protect our health and theenvironmentare notin place. Today, as an avid angler, it pains metofind overthree pages offish consumption advisories for mercury pollution in the summary book of regulations that comes with my fishing license. Mercury pollution caused by coal-fired electric powerplants in myview is anational disgrace. Iam gratefultothe EPA for recently enacting new regulations thatwill greatly reduce this toxic source of pollution. Please note that, despitethe predictions ofthe coal and electric utility industries, our lights have notgone out because ofthese new regulations. Now I believe thetime has come for EPA totake the next logical step to protect our health, our environment, and our economy by enacting the proposed Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants and the Carbon Pollution Standardfor Modified Sources. As a life-long outdoorsman, I have personally witnessed many adverse impacts to our fish and wildlife, and their critical habitat, caused by greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. Pennsylvania's state fish, the eastern brook trout, is in serious decline because of warming stream temperatures. The smallmouth bass population on the middle and lower Susquehanna River is also meeting the same fate. And many of our headwater streams have been ravaged by the increased frequency and intensityofrain events thatcause unnatural streambankerosion. Recently the Pennsylvania Game Commission reduced the hunting season for snowshoe hare because, on average, our winters are warmer, which translates into less snow cover to protect hares

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from predation. Pennsylvania's state tree, the eastern hemlock, is in serious trouble from a disease known as thewoolyadelgid. Mildwintersare also being blamedforthe proliferation ofthisforest pest. Humans too are not immune to the effects of climate change caused by unregulated greenhouse gases. The number ofAmericans inflicted with pollution-related lung cancer, asthma and allergies should concern us all. Just a couple of decades ago Lyme disease was something we never heard of. Today the number of Americans inflicted with this debilitating disease is growing exponentially. Once again, warmer winter temperatures are to blame for the proliferation of Iyme - infected ticks. In addition to human health and the environment, greenhouse gas em1ss1ons have a huge negative impact to our economy. Outdoor recreation, agriculture, and the forest products industry contribute billions to the nation's economy. We should all agree that America cannot afford to lose thesejob-sustaining industries because ofa preventable problem. On theflip side, increased health care costs from pollution-related illnesses are unnecessarily draining our financial resources. We cannot afford to pay the exorbitantcost ofthese preventablediseases. It is for these reasons above, and many more which I do not have the time to list, is why I stronglysupport EPA's Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants and the Carbon Pollution Standard for Modified Sources. There should be no doubt that we can have clean air, clean water, and a healthy economy. Indeed, a healthyeconomydemandsthatwe have both clean airand clean water. Thank you fortheopportunityto present myviews on these critically important issues. Sincerely,