US EPA Public Hearing on Emissions Standards 

OAQPS/SPPD/ESG (0243-01) 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 

(919)541-7966; (919)541-7966 

garrett.pamela @epa.gov 

2:30PM 8/16/2012 

I 

badies and Genttemerr. 

o-llj..,{, .... 11' : 

My name is Julie Schaarsand I live in the City of Dallas, Zipcode 75214. 

I am a retired community health nurse, 

member of the Sierra Club, 

founder of the Texas Section of the International Darksky Association and 

a long-time advocate for clean air. ct ...... k,.~ . 

r} 

Thank you for presenting this opportunity.to speak OU _Qpositign to the EPA eroposali tO 

weaken and delay the recently improved pollution limits for cement plants in the U.S. by more 

than two years. 

I ask the EPA to enforce the previously-approved higher standards for cement kiln emissions 

starting in 2013, witho~ a 2-y~ar delay. The previously approved emission standards hould 

not be delayed, as\\fley ~bOlO greatly enhance this region's ability to meet ou ' 1r qaa 1ty 

standards. VVe are also trying to deal with other cumulative toxic threats to the north central 

Texas area; these threats come from two huge sources: (1) increased drilling for gas and oil 

and (2) air and water pollution from pipelines being used to transport tar sands oil across the 

length of Texas. 

The 2010 EPA emission rules, to be implemented in 2013, were hailed as the largest single 

advance in air quality for the US cement industry, and were widely supported by citizens 

living near to the nation's cement plants. ~:..... J...; ··"'! ~ ~...J...-..~-. . ·. · 

Purportedly, the new rules had already passed all necessary regulatory reviews, and were on 

their way to President Obama for his signature and implementation by 201~when they got 

yanked by the administration's Office of Management and Budget earlier th1s year. When the 

rules re-emerged, their enforcement was pushed back to 2015 and their strict Particulate 

Matter pollution provisions were considerably weakened. 

My question is why the sudden change? What happened? It's hard to believe that the 

reversal of rule implementation was merely a budget decision. Is there a relationship bet\\<een 

the EPA's recent changes to the rules and numerous attempts by industry lobbyists to 

weaken and delay the roles in Congress? :X: t- <>}"<!. h. ~(!c..;.-. .... ~~~ , ..... ~~~1)-

•v-./V- ~ ~' SJ.f'/1 ~~) s-,._ 4- ,-.,~ ta--t.-~~"1-fr..Jl!., 

G~ I~ JL. etb. f'cJ,. ..16 ·/ / ~~ 'CJ ~f.--1-. .,...._ • 

1 
US EPA Public Hearing on Emissions Standards-page 2 

OAQPS/SPPD/ESG (0243-01) 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 

(919)541 -7966; (919)541-7966 

garrett.pamela @epa.gov 

2:30PM 8/16/2012 

Certainly the EPA is supportive of aggressive reduction and enforcement of emissions, 

according to the goals of the US Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). 

The OECA works with EPA regional offices, and in partnership with state and tribal 

governments, and other federal agencies to enforce the nation's environmental laws. 

One of the CECA'S overall enforcement goals in their final plan for FY 2013 is to 

"Aggressively go after pollution problems that make a difference in communities." I q~ote : 

"ePA will ~se '+'igoFO~s Gi\•il and oriminal enforoement that targets the most ser o~s v.-ater, air 

and ohemioal hazards; and ad¥anoes en•JiFOnmental j~stioe by protesting v~lnerable 

oomm~nities. 

The OECA then outlines a multi-point remedy, to justify implementing any regulations, 

saying, "Regions and delegated state, tribal and local agencies should implement and 

identify the most important air pollution problems and the most serious violations, ~ 

~ecific] targetinstools and other information ..... " 

'{Publication number- Final 305R12001 page 27) 

Today's testimony highlights why it is so important to address the most serious pollution 

problems, beginning with the north central Texas cement kilns. 

Additional reference: 

http:l/earthjustice.org/news/press/2012/epa-dirties-clean-air-legacy-with-proposal-to-weakenand-delay-cement-rule 

Respectfully submitted, 

Julie Schaar, Dallas Texas 75214 

Julie.Schaar@hotmail.com 

2