To: Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Tell the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission that Martin Drake Must Meet SO2 Standards Now!
Protect public health and designate Colorado Springs a non-attainment area for SO2 emissions.
Why is this important?
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission is set to recommend that the Martin Drake power plant be given more time to pollute our air before determining whether it meets EPA's 2010 revision to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2). I created this petition to tell the Commission that the Martin Drake power plant must meet those requirements now.
According to the EPA's Integrated Science Assessment for SO2, the “data are sufficient to conclude that there is a causal relationship between respiratory morbidity and short-term exposure to SO2.” Simply, even brief exposure to SO2 in the air can be harmful, hence why the EPA passed the revised 1-hour standard for SO2 emissions in 2010. Our community, especially those with respiratory illnesses, cannot afford more delays before complying with this regulation. Multiple models show that the Martin Drake power plant does not meet the 1-hour standard for SO2, and yet the Commission wants to give Colorado Springs Utilities more time to pollute the air we breathe before requiring the Utilities to take any action.
Tell the Commission that enough is enough - we have enough information to determine that Martin Drake does not meet the 1-hour SO2 standard. Will you sign the petition?
For more information about modelling of SO2 from Drake visit: http://tinyurl.com/SierraClubSO2
Aug. 20, 2015 CDPHE Public Hearing Notice (Amended Aug. 7):
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/SO2-Designations-PH-Notice-082015-REV_1.pdf
CO AQCC Public Hearing Agenda & Comments Received:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/aqcc-meeting-materials-august-20-2015
CO Air Quality Control Division Background Information:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/061815-SO2-materials.pdf
Health Impact of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) in the air from the American Lung Association:
http://www.lung.org/associations/states/colorado/clean-air/Sulphur-dioxide.html
According to the EPA's Integrated Science Assessment for SO2, the “data are sufficient to conclude that there is a causal relationship between respiratory morbidity and short-term exposure to SO2.” Simply, even brief exposure to SO2 in the air can be harmful, hence why the EPA passed the revised 1-hour standard for SO2 emissions in 2010. Our community, especially those with respiratory illnesses, cannot afford more delays before complying with this regulation. Multiple models show that the Martin Drake power plant does not meet the 1-hour standard for SO2, and yet the Commission wants to give Colorado Springs Utilities more time to pollute the air we breathe before requiring the Utilities to take any action.
Tell the Commission that enough is enough - we have enough information to determine that Martin Drake does not meet the 1-hour SO2 standard. Will you sign the petition?
For more information about modelling of SO2 from Drake visit: http://tinyurl.com/SierraClubSO2
Aug. 20, 2015 CDPHE Public Hearing Notice (Amended Aug. 7):
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/SO2-Designations-PH-Notice-082015-REV_1.pdf
CO AQCC Public Hearing Agenda & Comments Received:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/aqcc-meeting-materials-august-20-2015
CO Air Quality Control Division Background Information:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/061815-SO2-materials.pdf
Health Impact of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) in the air from the American Lung Association:
http://www.lung.org/associations/states/colorado/clean-air/Sulphur-dioxide.html