Connecticut Delegation Urges EPA to Reduce Dangerous Air Pollution from Neighboring State’s Coal Plant

WASHINGTON, DC (September 20, 2016) — Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), along with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Congressman John Larson (CT-01), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) sent a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce dangerous air pollution from the Brunner Island coal plant in Pennsylvania.

The Brunner Island coal plant is the largest facility in the Northeast that lacks effective pollution controls for nitrogen oxides. The plant's emissions cross state borders, spreading throughout the Northeast and greatly contributing to smog pollution in the region. The lawmakers wrote in support of the State of Connecticut's recent petition to limit emissions from the Brunner Island coal plant and improve air quality in Connecticut.

"Brunner Island is a significant contributor to the inability of parts of Connecticut to achieve and maintain safe air quality that protects public health," the lawmakers wrote. "Despite expending significant resources to reduce pollution and improve air quality, our state has been unable to meet those health-based standards, primarily due to pollution coming from beyond our borders. This pollution triggers asthma, heart attacks, and even premature death from heart and lung disease. We urge you and your capable team to take decisive action to respond to the petition within the statutory deadline and mitigate the damage being done to the health of our constituents and throughout the region by this large and uncontrolled facility."

The full letter is available here.