Dear Friend, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a reckless rule that would allow untold numbers of industrial facilities nationwide to burn scrap plastics, used chemicals, and other highly-polluting solid wastes without any meaningful monitoring or pollution controls. If finalized, the rule would leave many Americans exposed to toxic air pollution that can cause respiratory illness, birth defects, cancer and other serious health problems. Most people recognize that burning household waste is a bad idea, as the toxic fumes generated are hazardous to their families and neighbors. Polluting industries aren't as courteous. They have pressured the EPA for decades to allow burning of industrial wastes without requirements to control, monitor, or report pollution. The EPA's proposal largely grants industry’s wish. Nationwide, more than 180,000 facilities—including 1,700 chemical plants—could burn solid waste in uncontrolled on-site incinerators to generate heat or electricity as a result of the EPA's action. But shockingly, the EPA made no effort to determine which of these facilities might be burning waste. As a result, communities would be unable even to find out if uncontrolled waste burning is occurring in their neighborhoods and threatening the health of their families and friends. This whole mess is based on the dangerous premise that burning waste to recover energy is a form of "recycling." But there is nothing environmentally friendly about this proposal. Uncontrolled toxic air pollution and the health effects that can result are a serious problem. It is EPA's job to protect us from these hazards, and not to allow them to happen: http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/airtoxics_0710/i37iwdu447566e5d?— Earthjustice
Because the earth needs a good lawyer | 
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