West Needs Voice in Ozone Debate

DeGette Requests EPA to Hold Public Hearing in Denver Metro Area

---

WASHINGTON,DC – Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO) today requested theEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) give the Denver metro area avoice in the upcoming debate over proposed ozone standards. In a letterto EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, DeGette requested the EPAschedule a public hearing regarding the proposed ozone standards. TheEPA recently proposed changes to ambient air quality standards forground-level ozone, changes that will have a profound impact on thehealth of Americans.

"A public hearing in the Denver metroarea will help ensure the EPA crafts a proposal with broad-basedinput," DeGette writes. "Citizens in the Denver metro area have uniqueconcerns, ideas, and comments and deserve a forum with the EPA on thisimportant issue."

The EPA has already scheduled hearings in LosAngeles, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Not a singlehearing has been proposed anywhere near the Denver metro area, oranywhere in the Western United States.

"While I am concernedthat my constituents have been shut out of such an important publicprocess, I am also very concerned that the entire Western United Stateshas been put at a disadvantage. Those in the West deserve to have apublic forum with the EPA on the proposed ozone standards withouthaving to travel over 1,000 miles," DeGette writes.

Below is the text of DeGette's letter to the EPA:

September 19, 2007

The Honorable Stephen Johnson

Administrator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20460

Dear Administrator Johnson:

Airquality is an issue of significant concern in my CongressionalDistrict. My constituents in the Denver metro area continue to sufferfrom unhealthy ground-level ozone. At the same time, the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to ambient air qualitystandards for ground-level ozone, changes that will have a profoundimpact on the health of my constituents.

I am therefore writingto request the EPA schedule a public hearing in the Denver metro areato seek input on the proposed ozone standards. A public hearing forthe Denver metro area will help ensure the EPA crafts a proposal withbroad-based input. Citizens within the Denver metro area have uniqueconcerns, ideas, and comments and deserve a forum with the EPA on thisimportant issue.

I understand the EPA has already scheduled fivepublic hearings regarding the proposed ozone standards. These hearingswill be held in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, andAtlanta. Not a single hearing has been proposed anywhere near theDenver metro area, or anywhere in the Western United States, for thatmatter.

And while I am concerned that my constituents have beenshut out of such an important public process, I am also very concernedthat the entire Western United States has been put at a disadvantage. Those in the West deserve to have a public forum with the EPA on theproposed ozone standards without having to travel over 1,000 miles.

Further,the proposed changes promise a new way of assessing air quality in thewestern United States, promising to impact the health of more westerncommunities than ever before. The west needs a voice on this importantprocess.

Again, I request that you schedule a public hearing forthe Denver metro area to ensure broad-based citizen input on theproposed ozone standards. The EPA has given the public until October9th to submit comments, leaving ample time for the agency to schedulean additional hearing by that date.

I look forward to hearing from you on this important matter. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Diana DeGette

Member of Congress