Navajo
EPA clean air meeting Friday
Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau
FORT DEFIANCE — The Navajo Nation Environmental Protection
Agency Air Quality Control Program will hold a public meeting
on the Navajo Clean Air Act beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at the
Shiprock Chapter House.
According to Wilson Laughter of the Navajo Air Quality Control
Program, the meeting is being held to respond specifically to
written requests received during the public comment period for
a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Navajo Clean
Air Act .
Stephen B. Etsitty, executive director of Navajo EPA, will explain
why his agency has decided to host a public meeting instead
of a public hearing. Navajo EPA will provide the general information
about the purpose and meaning of the Navajo Clean Air Act and
will present those sections which are proposed to be amended.
One change proposed is the definition of "air pollutants,"
which has been expanded to mean "any air pollution agent
or combination of such agents, including any physical, chemical,
biological, radioactive (including source material, special
nuclear material, and byproduct material) substance or matter
which is emitted into or otherwise enters the ambient air ..."
The meeting will be performed in two segments. The first segment
will consist of a general overview and background of the Navajo
Clean Air Act, including the purpose of the act, how it compares
to the federal Clean Air Act, what the Navajo act will regulate,
and more.
The second segment is designed for presentation of those portions
of the Navajo Clean Air Act which are proposed for amendment.
As a result of this meeting, the deadline for public comments
will be extended from Jan. 8 to Jan. 24.
Persons interested in obtaining more information about the Navajo
Clean Air Act are urged to call Laughter at (928) 871-7188 or
Chris Lee, of the Navajo Air Quality Control Program.
On Jan. 9, U.S. EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt told the nation's
power company officials their industry must begin investing
now to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides
(NOx), and mercury from power plants. Several power plants regulated
by U.S. EPA have the potential to impact air quality on certain
portions of the Navajo Nation.
Leavitt said that last month EPA sent letters to the governors
of 31 states affirming that more than 530 counties were unable
to meet new health-based ozone standards.
"Many of those counties have unhealthy air through no fault
of their own," he said. "It's because they live downwind
from one or more coal-burning power plants."
In December 2003, EPA proposed an Interstate Air Quality plan
to reduce power plant emissions through a cap-and-trade program.
The plan is to cut SO2 emissions by 70 percent and NOx by about
65 percent from today's levels.
U.S. EPA's first-ever proposed rule to regulate mercury emissions
would reduce the estimated 48 tons of mercury emitted each year
by coal-burning power plants.
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are key contributors to fine
particles and ground-level ozone. Fine particles can pose serious
health risks, especially for people with heart or lung disease,
including asthma, as well as older adults and children. Ground-level
ozone can irritate the respiratory system, aggravate asthma,
reduce lung capacity and increase susceptibility to respiratory
illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
Mercury is a toxic pollutant which Americans are exposed to
primarily through eating mercury-contaminated fish, according
to EPA.
