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Resolution
League of United Latin
American Citizens Calls for the Full
Implementation of the Clean Air Act and Limiting
Emissions of Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants
WHEREAS, air pollution from
power plants is the largest source of air
pollution and cuts short an estimated 30,000
lives in the U.S. every year. More than 71% of
Hispanics live in areas that violate the federal
air pollution standards for one or more
pollutants. More than 13.5 million or 35 percent
of Hispanics live in areas that violate the
federal air pollution standard for particulate
matter, known commonly as soot, which causes
premature death. More than 19 million or 50
percent of Hispanics live in areas that violate
the federal air pollution standard for ozone,
one of the major triggers for asthma attacks;
and
WHEREAS, 36%
percent of the Latino population lives within 30
miles of a power plant – the distance within
which the maximum effects of SO2 from the
smokestack plume are expected to occur; and
WHEREAS, power
plant emissions of the global warming has carbon
dioxide pose threats to human health and our
ecosystems, yet are currently free of state of
federal regulations; and
WHEREAS,
pollution from power plants freely crosses state
boundaries requiring federal and state action to
protect the health of our citizens and the
natural resources of our states; and,
WHEREAS, most
coal-fired power plants were planned or built
before 1977 are currently exempt from meeting
the pollution standards of the Clean Air Act
that new plants must meet; and
WHEREAS, recent
weakening of the Clean Air Act’s New Source
Review rules will make this exemption permanent;
and
WHEREAS,
pollution from coal-fired power plants could be
reduced by installing modern pollution controls
or burning cleaner fuels as natural gas.
THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the League of United
Latin American Citizens at its 75th
Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas July 6th
– 10th, 2004 urges President George
W. Bush to enforce and implement the Clean Air
Act and abandon all attempts to weaken the
standards, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED,
that his Resolution be dispatched to the
President of the United States, Vice President
of the United States, Members of Congress and
other local and state elected officials as
appropriate.
Adopted this 10th day of July
2004.
Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President |
