ELPC Receives American Bar Association's Award for Excellence
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ELPC Receives American Bar Association's Award for Excellence
Learn More July 13, 2020
STATEMENT BY HOWARD A. LEARNER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER
“The Court of Appeals’ decision today, overall, is a good step forward for healthier clean air,” said Environmental Law & Policy Center Executive Director Howard A. Learner. “The Court reversed the U.S. EPA’s flawed actions reducing clean air protections for McHenry and Monroe Counties in Illinois and Porter County, Indiana, while upholding the agency’s action for Lake County, Indiana. ELPC and RHA commend the Illinois Attorney General and City of Chicago for their valuable legal work with the environmental groups on this important case.”
“The Court concluded that the EPA must now act as expeditiously as possible to adopt ozone nonattainment designations based on sensible, science-based standards, not last-minute political maneuvering,” Learner said. “To be clear, all of these counties contribute to Chicago’s high ozone level. The evidence should bear that out when the EPA conducts these reviews properly.”
STATEMENT BY BRIAN URBASZEWSKI
DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION
“People deserve to breathe clean air no matter where they live, and EPA’s decision to excuse multiple counties from requirements to help reduce pollution and ensure everyone in the entire region can breathe clean air was wrong,” said Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs for the Respiratory Health Association. “We’re glad the Court of Appeals found EPA’s decisions inappropriate and wholly unjustified and directed the Agency to address shortcomings so that the public’s health is protected, especially families already living with lung disease. We look forward to seeing the Agency’s bad decisions rectified as quickly as possible as per the directions of the Court.”