Judd Gregg introduces Clean Air Bill in Senate

By Daniel Remin

WASHINGTON — New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., introduced a bill Wednesday to reduce air pollution and limit harmful chemicals that are released from power plants.

Gregg, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, co-authored the bi-partisan Clean Air Planning Act of 2003, with Sens. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., and Tom Carper, D-DE.

According to a statement released by Gregg's office, the legislation would decrease the amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury from power plants by tightening restrictions on the output of air pollution by the plants. In addition to reducing plant emissions, the legislation would also allow power plants to come into compliance with pollution guidelines by planting trees or croplands to reduce the presence of carbon dioxide.

"This bill follows the lead set by the state of New Hampshire by setting significant reductions in the overall output of pollutants into our air," Gregg said in a statement. "Specifically, emissions of sulfur dioxide will be reduced by 80 percent, nitrogen oxide by 69 percent and mercury by 80 percent. These reductions are aggressive but realistic and allow power plants to bring their operations within the scope of the new law without causing them fatal economic hardship."

Although the power plants are located throughout the country, the chemicals still travel to New England and hurt the air. According to Gregg, the jet stream takes the chemical emissions to the Northeast.

"New England and the Northeast have long suffered as the 'tailpipe' of the nation when it comes to air pollution and its detrimental effects on our environment," Gregg said. "This pollution produces smog, haze and acid rain, threatening the health of those most susceptible to sickness, including the young, disabled or elderly and greatly damaging the quality of our ecosystem."

Besides calling for a reduction of harmful chemicals, the legislation also asks the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to present accurate air quality forecasts throughout the nation, according to Gregg's office.

Gregg, who also chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary, already has helped New Hampshire get $6 million over the last two years to develop an air pollution forecasting system. The forecasting service should go into effect next year, according to Gregg's office.

(Daniel Remin is an intern with the Boston University Washington News Service.)

Published in The Manchester Union Leader, in New Hampshire.