From PennEnvironment (http://www.pennenvironment.org):
Unbelievably, members of the state legislature chose to recognize the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by fast-tracking a proposal to stop new and pending environmental regulations in their tracks.
To add insult to injury, there are actually two pieces of legislation being pushed by members of the state House that will achieve the same goal: using the current pandemic as an excuse to stop implementing any environmental regulations.
Go to https://pennenvironment.webaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=37919 to tell your state legislators to oppose rollbacks meant to hinder environmental protections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Bill 2146 and Senate Bill 327 would stop state officials from implementing regulations to reduce air and water pollution, address toxic pollution, and help tackle climate change.
That’s the opposite of all that Earth Day represents.
This legislation would prevent new and pending environmental protections from being finalized during the COVID-19 emergency. Key proposals that would not be allowed to go into effect include:
- Water pollution standards for over 40 Pennsylvania streams;
- Protecting streams from manganese pollution;
- Setting new cleanup standards for PFAS;
- Updating hazardous waste standards to comply with federal law;
- Setting air pollution protection for oil and gas operations;
- Pennsylvania’s effort to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to tackle climate change;
- And sadly, much more.1
The message of Earth Day is clear: that we need to “Make Earth Day Every Day.”
Call on your state legislators to stand against this outrageous attack.
It’s always frustrating and outrageous when our politicians try and weaken our environmental programs. But doing so right now is particularly egregious. Our leaders in Harrisburg should be working to protect our environment, not undermining the agencies that are making sure we have clean air and water now, and for future generations.
A vote on this disastrous environmental rollback could take place any day now.
Your voice is urgently needed and will send a powerful message to our politicians in Harrisburg: Pennsylvanians expect our elected officials to defend clean air and clean water, and protect our environment.
Send an email to your state representative and senator today. Then forward this alert to friends and family and ask them to do the same.
1. David Hess, “House Republicans Pass Bill Blocking Environmental Regulations; Likely Going To Governor,” PA Environmental Digest, April 27, 2020
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