FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Milagros R. Elia
Program Manager, Climate and Clean Energy Advocacy
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
milagros@envirn.org
914.455.1165
EPA Grants Waiver for California’s Advanced Clean Cars II and Heavy Duty Omnibus (HDO) programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authorized waivers of preemption for California to implement theAdvanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) program and the Heavy Duty Omnibus program, an effort to reduce NOx emissions from heavy-duty trucks.
The authorization of a waiver of preemption for the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) program, allows for timely implementation of the program’s eight-year schedule for the twelve states (plus DC) that have already adopted the standard, while the authorized waiver of preemption for the Heavy Duty Omnibus (HDO) program, allows for implementation of the program for the ten states that have already adopted the standard.
In response to today’s EPA’s announcement, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment’s (ANHE) Executive Director Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
“The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments applauds the EPA for taking yet another step forward in protecting the public from health-harming pollution from the transportation sector. Health professionals like nurses understand the significant health implications from polluting vehicles, with more than 8,800 Americans losing their lives each year due to the poisonous effects of diesel exhaust and tailpipe emissions that contain toxic compounds that harm public health. Exposure to these pollutants can exacerbate and contribute to the development of asthma, lung disease, and cancer.
This latest EPA action reaffirms states’ authority under the Clean Air Act to adopt and implement their own clean vehicle and air quality regulations, which will help to mitigate toxic tailpipe pollution that worsens health throughout our country and will substantially boost efforts to deliver cleaner air across communities.”
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy. http://enviRN.org
