Montanans value a lot of things about their state: clean air being one of them. But lately clean air in the Big Sky and elsewhere has been under attack.
Some member of Congress, including Montana’s Rep. Denny Rehberg, are working to undermine the Clean Air Act in a big way, and let corporate polluters off the hook for emissions of dangerous pollutions.
I think Rep. Rehberg is forgetting that state residents depend on this act to protect their health, in addition to the natural recreation and tourism economy that brings so much money to our state.
Upholding the Clean Air Act and strengthening it is favored by most voters — both Republican and Democrat — nationwide, according to a recent poll by the American Lung Association. Montana residents and small businesses aren’t affected by Clean Air limits on pollutants, we only benefit from them. The cost for large-scale polluters to limit their emissions by installing special equipment are minimal in comparison to the health and economic benefits of upholding the act. Over the past 40 years, the act has saved millions of lives due to prevention of severe asthma attacks, cardiovascular disease and other health problems. And it’s saved our nation money in related health care costs.
Not only that, but the act has helped create a U.S. pollutions control device industry, as well as jobs in the solar and wind power fields, which has resulted in clean green renewable energy, good jobs and a boost for our economy. Showing a commitment to clean air also shows investors in the clean energy field that Montana is looking toward the future and is open for their business.
We already have some of the largest polluted sites in the country, some of which are mandated by the EPA to be restored back to normal—and some which may never be able to be restored. Do we really need more Superfund sites?
Please urge Rep. Rehberg and our other members of Congress to support the Clean Air Act.
Chris Daum
Stevensville