### Re: DocketNo. EPA-HQ-20II-0660 From: Deirdre Smith 2652 JeffersonPark Circle Charlottesville, VA 22903 Date: May**2~,** 2012 

### My name is Dede Smith and I am here from Charlottesville, Virginia where I am an elected member ofCity Council. OnApril2, 2012, the Charlottesville City Council votedunanimously to endorse the EPA's proposal to limit carbon pollution from newcoal-fired powerplants. I've attached a copy ofthat resolution. Why would Charlottesville, nestled in the foothills ofthe Blue Ridge Mountains, be concerned about coal burning powerplants being built hundreds ofmiles away? ?t.OP0:'£0 

### Simply because,

## with~ new coal burning 

### planta

## ~wvmj,:oy in our vicinity, there is an imminent threat offurther degradation in air quality to those ofus downwind of*6!i'e new sites. We're concerned because ourmodest city, with its reputation as one ofthe best places to live in America, has in recent years hadto issue warnings overunhealthy air quality. This is a threat to our children, to pregnant women, to the elderly, to the patients who come to ouroutstandingmedical facilities and to the economic health ofourregion. Smogis notjustan eyesore. It

### irritates our lungs, triggers asthma attacks, increases emergency room visits, and can lead to irreversible lung damage. Tourism, education, and ourrenowned medical centers are the core ofthe area's industry. A city with as rich a historic fabric as ours relies on the 2 million tourists each year who come to Charlottesville to see Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, James Monroe's Ash Lawn, andJames Madison's Montpelier; orto attend one ofCharlottesville's renowned literary, cultural orartistic festivals; tour its 30 wineries and breweries; orjust take in the spectacular beauty ofthe area. At the heart ofourlocal economy is the University ofVirginia, consistently listed as one ofthe top five public universities in the country for its strong academic standing and renowned hospital. Anotherpart ofourtourism attraction is Shenandoah National Park, a shortjauntfrom Charlottesville, and a refuge from the Beltway's clamor. Sadly, where once a visitor could see more than I00 miles from its overlooks, today its iconic views are oftenlimited to only a mile ortwo due to the smog andother pollutants carried on the wind from far-away coal burning plants, and posing health risks to the 1.5 million people who visit the park every year. I am here today to ask you, tohelp us preserve the historic and natural heritage ofCentral Virginia and therewith its economy byreducingthe amount ofsmog and haze allowedin ourairby controlling carbon pollution from newcoal-fired power plants and I urge you further to consider a higher standard for existing powerplants as well. Thank you for your time and attention and Ihope you will visit Charlottesville this year to help us celebrate onr2501 h 

### birthday.

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RESOLUTION REQUESTING that the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator fully employ and enforce the Clean Air Act to reduce industrial carbon pollution. WHEREAS the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that climate change will cause negative public health impacts from direct temperature effects, extreme weather events, climate-sensitive diseases, air quality, and otherhealth impacts; and WHEREAS the Union of Concerned Scientists predicts that higher temperatures from global warming will exacerbate ozone pollution, one ofthe main ingredients ofsmog; and WHEREAS, on days with high levels ofsmog pollution deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory causes increase, more people visit hospital emergency rooms for asthma, pneumonia and upper respiratory infections, and more adults miss work and more children miss school due to illness; and WHEREAS, the American Lung Association says nearly half of all Americans

- 48 percent- still live in areas with unhealthy levels ofsmogpollution; and WHEREAS the City ofCharlottesville had 3 unhealthy air days from ground level ozone pollution (above 75 parts per billion in an eight hour period) in 2010; and WHEREAS, for four decades, the Clean AirAct has protected the air we breathe through a proven, comprehensive, successful system of pollution control that saves lives and creates economic benefits exceeding its costs by many times; and WHEREAS, between 1970 and 1990, the six main pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act were reduced by between 47 and 93 percent, and airborne lead was virtually eliminated; and WHEREAS, the Clean AirAct has produced economic benefits valued at $2 trillion or 30 times the cost ofregulation; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts v. EPA (2007) that greenhouse gases are "air pollutants" as defined by the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate them; and WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act can work immediately to curb greenhouse gas pollution without new climate legislation or in conjunction with newclimate legislation; and WHEREAS, in 2006, Charlottesville Mayor David Brown, with the endorsement ofthe City Council, signed the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, which has now been signed by more than 1000 U.S. mayors; and

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WHEREAS, in 2007, the City Council adopted a 2025 Vision Statement for the City which incorporated goals for "A Green City," including a goal for clean air; BE IT RESOLVED by the Council ofthe City ofCharlottesville, State ofVirginia: Section l. That the Council respectfully request the Administrator ofthe Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa P. Jackson, and President Barack Obama to fully employ and enforce the Clean Air Act to do our part to reduce carbon in our atmosphere to no more than 350 parts per million. Section 2. That a copy ofthis resolution be sent to Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency.**Passed:~------------'** 2012 Mayor Attest:**-----~C~I-er k**  _____ ___ Submitted by Councilmember**~~~~~~~-**

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