As the new home of ConnPIRG's environmental work, Environment Connecticut can be contacted regarding this news release.
HARTFORD—The Connecticut
Clean Cars Alliance, a coalition of health care providers, environmental and
business groups, and lawmakers today hailed the New Jersey legislature's passage
of a requirement that all new cars sold in the state meet California auto emissions
standards and called on Connecticut lawmakers to adopt similar legislation.
The emissions standards
approved in New Jersey late Monday, are already in place in Massachusetts, Vermont
and New York, and are under consideration by the Connecticut legislature in
the upcoming 2004 session.
"This important step
by the New Jersey State Legislature shows that the tide is certainly turning
on a national level and there is a clear movement to create higher emissions
standards for all new cars. That is good news for the environment, and it will
be great news for the citizens of Connecticut once we get our own clean car
bill passed," said Senator Donald Williams (D-Killingly). "I commend
the New Jersey State Legislature for their actions and look forward to taking
up this bill when our session begins in February."
Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield
said, "Air quality standards are a regional concern and not just limited
to Connecticut. That is why it is so important for us to join our neighboring
states by implementing these new motor vehicle emissions standards to improve
the public health and the quality of life for the residents of Connecticut."
Connecticut has a serious
air pollution problem, and cars are the number one cause, releasing more than
40 percent of all smog-forming pollutants and cancer-causing airborne toxics
emitted in the state. Nearly 400,000 state residents suffer from illnesses related
to air pollution, and many more are at risk, according to the American Lung
Association. Every county in Connecticut violates U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's health-based air quality standards for smog, contributing to large
numbers of asthma attacks across the state.
"Citizens of Connecticut
deserve better than to live in one of the most polluted states in the country,
while neighboring states take action to control one of the most significant
sources of dangerous air pollution. It's time for Connecticut to join its neighbors
in protecting public health by limiting car pollution," said Millie Baird,
of Environmental Defense, a member of the Clean Cars Alliance.
"New Jersey's action
is great news for clean air and the public health," said Christopher Phelps,
advocate for ConnPIRG. "The Connecticut Legislature should also consider
the health of the residents of the state and make the Clean Cars bill its top
environmental and public health priority for 2004."
Don Strait, Executive Director
of the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, noted that passing clean car legislation
in Connecticut would reduce cancer-causing air toxics in the state from cars
and light trucks by one-third beyond projected federal levels and smog forming
pollutants by 10 to 20 percent over the next 20 years.
"The adoption of clean
cars legislation will allow Connecticut to take an important step in the effort
to make our communities healthier places to live and raise a family," Strait
said. "Connecticut's children and families deserve the same protections
that children and families in our neighboring states now enjoy."
Alliance members said Connecticut's
public health, quality of life and economy will all suffer unless its car pollution
controls match those of neighboring states. The members said Connecticut's legislators
must take decisive action and join its neighbors in adopting clean car legislation
this year.
"The State of New Jersey
should be commended for its actions and Connecticut should follow suit to help
our residents suffering from lung disease to breathe easier," said Michael
Lauzier, Vice President for Government Relations at the American Lung Association
of Connecticut.
