Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments 

Bringing Science and Passion to the Environmental Health Movement 

EPA Public Hearing on Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule 

July 29, 2014 

My name is Lill Mood, and I am a retired public health nurse. I spent 

nearly 10 years of my 32 year public health career working in 

environmental protection programs as a liaison between the South 

Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control and citizens 

who were concerned about environmental hazards and their effect on 

the health of children, families, and communities. 

I had the privilege of chairing the Institute of Medicine study of Nursing, 

Health & Environment. (1998) The study reaffirmed that the nursing 

profession is rooted in the understanding that our environment is a 

primary determinant of health. Nurses have a heritage of facilitating 

good health and recovery from illness by paying attention to and 

modifying environmental conditions. The IOM study mapped a path 

forward for nurses to make a difference by addressing environmental 

risks as an integral part of practice, education, research and advocacy. 

I am pleased to speak today on behalf of the Alliance of Nurses for 

Healthy Environments (ANHE), a network of individual nurses and 

nursing organizations bonded in efforts to prevent and alleviate 

environmental hazards and conditions that contribute to ill health and 

loss of quality of life. 

From our focus on individual patient health, we nurses have broadened 

our involvement to larger issues that impact the health of individuals, 

populations, and communities. There is no question of the scientific 

evidence that climate change is affecting all dimensions of human life, 

including health. From changing patterns of infection and allergies to 

new and evolving pathogens and toxic exposures, from devastating 

storms, floods, and droughts to loss of homes and jobs, people are 

reaping the consequences of carbon pollution and its widespread 

impact. We witness increased asthma from carbon emissions and health 

threats from pollution of water from coal mining and coal-fired power 

plants. We are active in searching out the specifics of health impacts due 

to chemical exposures from fracking used to recover natural gas as a 

solution to energy needs. We are drawn to sustainable energy sources 

without the downside of pollution, like solar and wind energy. 

ANHE has put its effort into promoting individual and workplace 

practices that reduce our carbon footprint—clean energy, recycling, 

public transportation, walking and biking, growing and eating locally 

STEERING CO 

Laura Anderko, PhD, RN 

Georgetown University 

Adelita Cantu, Phd, RN 

National Assoc of Hispanic Nurses 

Stephanie Chalupka, EdD, RN, 

FAAOHN 

Worcester State University 

Kathy Curtis, LPN 

Clean & Healthy NY 

Karen G. Duderstadt, PhD, RN 

National Assoc of Pediatric Nurse 

Practitioners 

Tom Engle, RN 

Assoc of State and Territorial 

Directors of Nurses 

Wade G. Hill PhD, PHCNS-BC 

Montana State University College of 

Nursing 

Katie Huffing, RN, MS, CNM 

American College of NurseMidwives 

Beth Lamanna RN, WHNP, MPH 

Public Health Nursing 

Section,American Public Health 

Association 

Jeanne Leffers, PhD, RN 

University of Massachusetts 

Ruth McDermott-Levy, PhD, RN 

Villanova University 

Lillian Mood, RN, MPH 

Kathryn Murphy, MSN, RN 

Naugatuck Valley Community 

College 

KathiSalley Randall, RNC, MS, 

NNP-BC 

National Assoc of Pediatric Nurse 

Practitioners 

Barbara Sattler, RN, DrPH, FAAN 

University of San Francisco 

Beth Schenk, PhD, MU!, RN 

Providence Saint Patrick Hospital 

Mary Jane Williams, PhD, RN 

Sandy Worthington, MSN, WHNPBC, CNM 

Planned Parenthood Federation of 

America, Inc 

Affiliations added for identification 

2901 Shepherd Street • Mount Rainier • MD • 20712 240-753-3729 • EnviRN.org 
I

( Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments 

Bringing Science and Passion to the Environmental Health Movement 

grown foods—the multiple strategies that together add up to more than their simple sum, that have a 

multiplier effect on health. 

Nursing is the largest health profession in number, and we are present in more workplaces that put us 

in contact with people than any other group of health professionals. Even those of us who are officially 

retired invest our time in disaster relief efforts, community improvement projects, free clinics, civic 

organizations, and advocacy initiatives. We also enjoy the amazing status of being the "most trusted 

profession" as determined over and over in an annual Gallup poll. 

We are using our capacity to join with other health professionals and environmental colleagues, our 

elected officials and our community neighbors, to "bend the arc" of progress in reducing carbon 

pollution, in alleviating the existing effects of climate change, and in preventing further damage to our 

precious home, the earth. 

We stand firmly in support of the EPA Clean Power Plan. 

We ask that you listen to and help us find additional ways for the public to hear and heed our trusted 

voices as we work together on the issue of climate change. We urge you to stand firm and stand tall 

with us in the commitment to make this earth a safe place to live, work, and play. 

Lillian H. Mood, RN MPH FAAN 

628 Shallow Cove Court 

Chapin, SC 29036 

803-345-3460 

lhmood@bellsouth.net 

2901 Shepherd Street-Mount Rainier -MD -20712 240-753-3729 - EnviRMorg