Over 200 Medical Societies, Public Health Groups, Faith and Other Organizations Urge Strong EPA Action Limiting Smog Pollution That Would Save Thousands of Lives
17 Nov, 2010, 11:00 ET
210 Regional, State and Local Groups Sign on; American Lung Association, American Public Health Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics Among Signers of New National Ad.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A national coalition of 210 public health, advocacy and faith-based groups is endorsing pending EPA pollution limits that would save 12,000 lives and prevent tens of thousands of asthma attacks and heart attacks each year.
The groups announced their support in an ad scheduled to appear today in Politico. Among the groups backing the EPA's authority are the American Lung Association, American Public Health Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Preventive Medicine, and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, along with scores of other influential national and state-level groups.
The ad may be viewed online at http://www.plowsharegroup.com/media_downloads/ala_ozone_push.php.
Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that the official limit on ozone, called the national air quality standard, must be much stronger to protect public health from serious harm. Ozone, sometimes called smog, burns lungs and airways, causing them to become inflamed, reddened, and swollen. Young children, teens, senior citizens, and people with lung diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and others are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of ozone. When inhaled even at low levels, ozone can cause chest pain and coughing, aggravate asthma, reduce lung function, increase emergency room visits and hospital admissions for respiratory problems, and lead to irreversible lung damage. Ozone can even cause premature death.
Nonetheless, polluters and their allies are pushing heavily to block the new standards.
"EPA must strengthen the ozone standard to protect millions of Americans who are currently exposed to unsafe levels of toxic ozone," said Charles D. Connor, president and CEO of the American Lung Association. "This is a critical step towards safer and healthier air across the United States."
"Polluters are attacking the clean air protections that have saved tens of thousands of lives and prevented millions of cases of illnesses over the past 40 years," said Peter Lehner, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The Clean Air Act alone has done a remarkable job of reducing pollution and protecting our health but there is more work to be done. Millions are suffering from asthma attacks and heart and lung disease. We need the EPA to follow the science and enact stronger standards to reduce the amount of smog we breathe."
"Science should be our guide, and there's no doubt that adopting a stronger standard will protect health and save lives," said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association. "People with asthma, seniors, outdoor workers and especially children are at greatest risk. A stronger standard will help ensure that those who are most vulnerable are more adequately protected."
The full text of the ad reads as follows:
"It's our air, but big polluters treat it like they own it. They dump millions of tons of dangerous pollution into our air, threatening the health of all Americans.
Now they're also dumping millions of dollars into a lobbying war against America's clean air laws -- even as millions suffer from asthma attacks and other health impacts, especially the young and the elderly.
By setting stronger air quality standards for smog, the EPA can take a stand against big polluters and their lobbyists – and stand up for all Americans, including the most vulnerable.
Overwhelming evidence shows that stronger smog standards will save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of respiratory emergencies each year. Why would anyone oppose that?
Administrator Jackson, we are counting on you to fight for our air so America's most vulnerable don't have to."
The full list of 44 national ad signers is: |
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American Academy of Pediatrics |
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American College of Preventive Medicine |
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American Lung Association |
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American Public Health Association |
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American Thoracic Society |
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America |
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Center for Biological Diversity |
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Clean Air Task Force |
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Clean Air Watch |
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Earth Day Network |
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Earthjustice |
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Environment America |
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Environmental Defense Fund |
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Environmental Health Fund |
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Friends of the Earth |
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Greenpeace USA |
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Interfaith Power & Light |
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Izaak Walton League of America |
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Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) |
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League of Conservation Voters |
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MORALS - Mineral Owners for Responsible Action and Land Safety |
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National Alliance for Drilling Reform NA4DR |
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National Association of County and City Health Officials |
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National Latino Coalition on Climate Change (NLCCC) |
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National Parks Conservation Association |
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National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. (NPRC) |
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National Wildlife Federation |
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Natural Resources Defense Council |
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NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby |
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Physicians for Social Responsibility |
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Public Citizen |
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Safe Climate Campaign |
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Science and Environmental Health Network |
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Sierra Club |
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SustainEdge |
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TEDX |
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The Center for the Celebration of Creation |
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The Turner Foundation, Inc. |
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Trust for America's Health |
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Union of Concerned Scientists |
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Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations |
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Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth |
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Utah Interfaith Power & Light |
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Voces Verdes |
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The full list of the 166 regional, state and local ad signers is |
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Alabama |
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American Lung Association in Alabama |
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Conservation Alabama |
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GASP (formerly Alabama First) |
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Alaska |
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American Lung Association in Alaska |
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Arizona |
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American Lung Association in Arizona |
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Arkansas |
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American Lung Association in Arkansas |
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The Earth Cause Organization |
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California |
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Ballona Network |
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Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates |
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Citizen's Coalition for a Safe Community |
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Clean Water and Air Matter |
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Coalition for Clean Air |
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Fresno Metro Ministry |
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KyotoUSA |
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Regional Asthma Management & Prevention |
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Rose Foundation for Communities & the Environment |
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SF-Bay Area Physicians for Social Responsibility |
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Colorado |
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American Lung Association in Colorado |
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Colorado Environmental Coalition |
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Sierra Club, Rocky Mountain Chapter |
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Western Resource Advocates |
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Wilderness Workshop |
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Connecticut |
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American Lung Association in Connecticut |
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Connecticut Interfaith Power and Light |
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Delaware |
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American Lung Association in Delaware |
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District of Columbia |
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American Lung Association in the District of Columbia |
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Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light |
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Southern Environmental Law Center |
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Florida |
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American Lung Association in Florida |
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Georgia |
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American Lung Association in Georgia |
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Environment Georgia |
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Georgia Interfaith Power & Light |
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Mothers & Others for Clean Air |
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Southern Energy Network |
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Hawaii |
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American Lung Association in Hawaii |
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Idaho |
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American Lung Association in Idaho |
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Illinois |
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American Lung Association in Illinois |
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Eco-Justice Collaborative |
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Environment Illinois |
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Faith in Place and the Illinois Interfaith Power & Light Campaign |
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Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition |
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Protestants for the Common Good |
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Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago |
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Indiana |
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American Lung Association in Indiana |
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Hoosier Environmental Council |
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Indiana Toxics Action |
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Valley Watch, Inc |
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Iowa |
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American Lung Association in Iowa |
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Kansas |
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American Lung Association in Kansas |
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The Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy |
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Kentucky |
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American Lung Association in Kentucky |
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Kentucky Environmental Foundation |
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Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light, Inc |
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Louisiana |
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American Lung Association in Louisiana |
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Maine |
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American Lung Association in Maine |
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Conservation Law Foundation |
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ENE (Environment Northeast) |
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Natural Resources Council of Maine |
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Maryland |
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American Lung Association in Maryland |
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network |
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Massachusetts |
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American Lung Association in Massachusetts |
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Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light |
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Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters |
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Unitarian Universalist MA Action Network |
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Michigan |
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American Lung Association in Michigan |
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Environment Michigan |
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Great Lakes Environmental Law Center |
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Michigan Interfaith Power & Light |
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Michigan League of Conservation Voters |
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Minnesota |
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American Lung Association in Minnesota |
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Environment Minnesota |
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Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy |
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Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance |
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Mississippi |
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American Lung Association in Mississippi |
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Missouri |
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American Lung Association in Missouri |
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Audubon Missouri |
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Missouri Coalition for the Environment |
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Missouri Votes Conservation |
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Renew Missouri, a project of the Coalition for the Environment |
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Montana |
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American Lung Association in Montana |
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Nebraska |
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American Lung Association in Nebraska |
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Nevada |
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American Lung Association in Nevada |
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Nevada Building Performance Professionals |
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Nevada Conservation League Education Fund |
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SolarEnvi |
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New Hampshire |
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American Lung Association in New Hampshire |
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New Jersey |
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American Lung Association in New Jersey |
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New Mexico |
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American Lung Association of New Mexico |
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New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light |
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Western Environmental Law Center |
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WildEarth Guardians |
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New York |
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American Lung Association in New York |
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Asthma Free School Zone |
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Citizens' Environmental Coalition |
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New York Interfaith Power & Light |
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New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) |
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New Yorkers for Sustainable Energy |
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Renewable Energy Long Island |
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WE ACT For Environmental Justice |
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North Carolina |
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American Lung Association in North Carolina |
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Appalachian Voices |
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Conservation Council of NC |
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NC WARN |
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North Carolina Conservation Network |
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North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light |
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North Dakota |
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American Lung Association in North Dakota |
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Ohio |
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American Lung Association in Ohio |
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Environment Ohio |
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Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project (NEOGAP) |
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Ohio Environmental Council |
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Ohio Network for the Chemically Injured |
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Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper Association |
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Oklahoma |
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American Lung Association in Oklahoma |
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Oregon |
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American Lung Association in Oregon |
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Northwest Environmental Defense Center |
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Oregon Interfaith Power and Light, A Project of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon |
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Pennsylvania |
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American Lung Association in Pennsylvania |
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Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) |
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Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania |
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Group Against Smog & Pollution |
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Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light |
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Rhode Island |
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American Lung Association in Rhode Island |
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Rhode Island Interfaith Power and Light |
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South Carolina |
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American Lung Association in South Carolina |
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South Dakota |
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American Lung Association in South Dakota |
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Tennessee |
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American Lung Association in Tennessee |
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Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light |
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Texas |
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American Lung Association in Texas |
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Argyle-Bartonville Communities Alliance |
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Corinthcares |
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Dallas Downriver Club |
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DFW Regional Concerned Citizens |
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Downwinders at Risk |
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Family Area Ministry & Education |
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Flower Mound Citizens Against Urban Drilling |
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Flower Mound Defense Fund |
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FWCanDo (Fort Worth Citizens Against Neighborhood Drilling Operations) |
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Local Color |
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Old Town Neighborhood Association |
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Texans for Responsible and Accountable Energy Development |
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Wise County Alliance for Responsible Drilling |
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Utah |
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American Lung Association in Utah |
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Vermont |
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American Lung Association in Vermont |
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Friends of Burlington Gardens |
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Idle-Free VT Inc. |
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Virginia |
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American Lung Association in Virginia |
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VA League of Conservation Voters |
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Virginia Conservation Network |
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Washington |
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American Lung Association in Washington |
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Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light |
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West Virginia |
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American Lung Association in West Virginia |
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Wisconsin |
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American Lung Association in Wisconsin |
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Clean Wisconsin |
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Interfaith Community for the Earth - Central WI |
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Midwest Environmental Advocates |
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Wisconsin Asthma Coalition |
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Wisconsin Environment |
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Wisconsin Interfaith Power and Light |
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Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters |
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Wyoming |
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American Lung Association in Wyoming |
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Powder River Basin Resource Council |
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Upper Green River Alliance |
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Wyoming Conservation Voters |
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Wyoming Outdoor Council |
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carrie Martin, American Lung Association, [email protected], 202-420-1141
Eric Young, Natural Resources Defense Council, [email protected], 202-289-2373
SOURCE Natural Resources Defense Council; American Lung Association; American Public Health Association
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