### TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CLEAN POWERPLAN RULE Docket 1D No. 

### EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602 By 

### .Jennifer Quinn

37 Piersol St. Tamaqua, PA 18252 .Jasquid@hotmail.com

Good afternoon. My name is Jennifer Quinn and I'm a resident ofTamaqua, Pennsylvania.
Ispend as much time as Ican outdoors. As aforester, Ispent most of my working life outside, and my free-time hiking and mountain biking all overthe country and in my home state of Pennsylvania. I believe we have an obligation to protect ouroutdoor and wildlife heritage from climate change by addressing its causes- including carbon pollution from power plants. Therefore, Ifully supportthe EPA's proposed standard. It should be implemented promptly and without being weakened in any way. Failing to do so will mean increasingly disastrous impacts on ourwildlife including habitat loss, out-ofcontrol pests such as ticks and bark beetles, and species extinctions. It's no longer acceptable for us to waste time debating the validity ofclimate science-the science is clear (whetheryou want to believe itor not)-carbon pollution causes climate change, resulting in more frequent and extreme weather events, drought, wildfire, and sea level rise that devastate our communities, threaten public health, destroy and degrade wildlife habitat, and irreversibly harm our outdoor recreational activities- whetheryou're hunting, fishing, hiking, or wildlife watching- climate change is athreat. Here in Pennsylvania, many species are on the front lines ofthe climate change battle. The brooktrout, an economically and culturally importantspecies, requires clean, cold, waters tothrive, but their populations will decline with awarming climate. The black duck, whose populations are already low, will lose important nesting sites due to sea level rise, and seagrass lost due to sea level rise will be devastating forspecies that rely on this aquatic vegetation for food, includingthe American Wigeon, northern pintail, canvasback, and the black duck. Many endangered species recovered in the 20th century through programs paid for by sportsmen through excise taxes and stamp fees, but climate change is putting these success stories and America's outdoor legacy at increased risk. Forthose who don't huntorfish, you might notcare aboutthe fate oftrout or ducks. However, climate change does not discriminate based on species. Humans are threatened by drought, violent and deadly weather events, and disease carrying insects such as ticks and mosquitoes that are thriving in awarming world. Mosquito borne diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya, found in the tropical regions ofAfrica and southeast Asia, have found theirway to the U.S and will continue to spread to statesthat neverthoughtthey'd have to deal with such outbreaks.
Ifwe want our children and grandchildren to have the same opportunitiesto enjoythe outdoorsthat we've had, and to not deal with the consequences ofan ever-warming world, we owe itto them to act nowto cut climate-altering carbon pollution. This rule to limit carbon pollution has been called, by some, awar on coal and an attack on coal miners and theirfamilies- words and phrases most likely developed by a large, well-paid marketingfirm, meant to scare and anger. Having just heard some of my testimony, some ofthose in attendance might easily brand me as "one ofthose environmentalists" but I'm also from a long line ofcoal miners. Mygreatgrandfatherand grandfatherwere both Pennsylvania coal miners and my father followed in their footsteps and mined coal for decades in the anthracite region ofnortheastern Pennsylvania, doing underground and surface mining. And I can assure you, Iam neitherfrightened norangered by EPA's carbon pollution limits and Iwould urge others notto be either. Unfortunately, industries have a history ofover-reacting to regulations. During the mid-1970's, the EPA began requiring the use ofcatalytic converters on new automobilesto dramatically reduce air pollution. The big automakers claimed these new regulations would cause the auto industryto collapse and would devastatethe economy, dramatic claims that were entirelyfalse. Ifanything, history has shown us that regulations have spurred innovation- increasing fuel efficiency and reducing pollution from ourvehicles. The Clean Carbon Plan can also drive innovation by spurring investment in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies. Despite our differences, we are all in this together (whetherwe like itor not) and we owe itto one anotherto do the right thing. Please implementthe proposed standard without any changes as soon as possible. Thank you.