Letter to an Elected Official
Senator Bob Graham
Jackie Burgermeister
Binghamton, NY 13901
November 16, 2001
Senator Bob Graham
Clean Air Subcommittee
Environmental and Public Works Committee
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Bob Graham :
I am writing to express my concern in a subject I have read a bit about in my Teaching Language Arts to Elementary School Children class at SUNY Cortland. I have come across a very disturbing matter that I think might be of some interest to you.
In reading Acid Rain, Acid Snow, by John Slade, it has been brought to my attention that certain actions are being made, and ignored, causing our lakes and forests in the Adirondack Mountain region to be destroyed. Power plants and electric companies are finding ways around the Clean Air Act. A number of these coal-burning power plants were granted exemption, or "grand-fathered," from meeting the standards of the Clean Air Act. These plants, that were under construction at the time of the Clean Air Act amendments in 1977, continue to function today, releasing up to 10 times the amount of pollution than modern-day plants. The result: Over 400 lakes and ponds dead in the Adirondack Mountain region; low survival rate of fish and other aquatic life in these lakes and ponds, and 75 percent of high elevation spruce trees have died. All of which should have been prevented.
In May of 2000, the New York State Legislature in Albany passed a bill preventing New York State power companies from selling their pollution credits to power companies in other states. However, this bill was ignored, and due to the reduced amount of energy use by these power companies, they turned around and sold their difference to other plants nationwide.
I am writing to ask you to support stronger legislation. It is the power in Congress that can control these plants and keep them from continuing to pollute our environment. It is time to bring back the health of our forests and lakes. All of the small steps that are taken to prevent the increase in pollution are not enforced enough.
I feel, strong consequences for the power plants that ignore the Clean Air Act and other bills of legislation need to be in order. Many people, trees, animals, and other wildlife are being destroyed because of the lack of concern for our environment. We have the technology and money to handle this situation. We need strong will and power from Congress to help us beat the odds and create a cleaner environment.
Thank you for listening to my concerns, and please give this some serious thought.
Sincerely,
Jackie Burgermeister
