Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Jan Penland, and I live at 1606 Trailridge Drive, Arlington. 

The first thing I do every morning is go to my computer to check the day's air quality forecast. I do 

this because I have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (commonly known as COPD), and the air 

quality determines much of what I'm able to do on any given day. Even though my condition is not yet 

so severe that I have to have supplemental oxygen, I am limited in many ways. On "Orange Alert" 

days, I simply have to stay indoors if at all possible. "Yellow Alert" days are somewhat better, but still 

limit my activity. I find it very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to climb stairs, or to walk even a 

block. Many ordinary household chores are difficult, especially those that require bending over, which 

puts pressure on my diaphragm and literally takes my breath away. Shopping, even for necessities 

such as groceries, is a major chore, rather than the pleasure it used to be. 

This is the handbook that I've lived by since I was diagnosed with pulmonary disease nearly 10 years 

ago. I wish I could shred it, but I can't. I depend on the information it contains to help me maintain 

the lung function I have left and help me cope with the challenges of living with this condition. Let me 

tell you a little about COPD. 

According to the American Lung Association, COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. In 

2008, 13.1 million U.S. adults were estimated to have COPD. It's progressive, it's irreversible, and it's 

incurable. The costs associated with the disease are enormous. In 2010, the cost to the nation for 

COPD was projected to be approximately $49.9 billion. For the individual patient the preferred drugs 

used to treat the disease are inhaled steroids, which are not available in generic form. Most COPD 

patients have annual drugs bills in the neighborhood of $6000, and for many, like me, who also must 

treat other chronic diseases, drug bills alone can exceed $10,000 every year. For those who must use 

supplemental oxygen, the costs are greater still. Without insurance I would be bankrupt! COPD 

patients are frequently hospitalized, most often for the treatment of pneumonia, usually requiring 

ICU admission and time on a ventilator. These trips to the hospital can be quite lengthy, and are 

usually followed by extensive rehab. 

The pollution pumped into our environment by the cement plants to our south exacerbate the 

condition of many thousands of north Texas residents who, like me, suffer from tung diseases. The 

emissions from these plants contribute greatly to the extraordinary number of Yellow and Orange 

Alert days we experience. 

According to the EPA website, the mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. 

Delaying the new rules by two years certainly does nothing to further that mission. Stringent air 

quality standards can go far to alleviate the physical and economic suffering caused by lung diseases 

and will improve the air quality in north central Texas for all its citizens. I implore you live up to the 

challenge of your mission statement by implementing the new rules without further delay. 

Thank you for hearing me.