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WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh's air quality is historically poor and high in particulate matter and smog; and
WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act was made federal law in 1970; and
WHEREAS our City has realized, and would like to continue to realize a remarkable improvement in air quality; and
WHEREAS, the impacts of higher levels of pollution in our air will most adversely affect low-income communities in our city who are least able to cope with the resulting health issues such as asthma and heart disease; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is nestled in a river valley surrounded by carbon-emitting coal plants to the north, south and west, as well as several highways, heavy construction and industrial sites that produce large amounts of global warming pollution; and
WHEREAS smog is one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution, causing health problems even at very low levels; and
WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act requires limits on all pollutants that pose a danger to the public welfare; and
WHEREAS it is the Environmental Protection Agency's scientific finding that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health and welfare; and
WHEREAS, our representatives in the Senate and Congress may be voting on issues which could effect the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to carry out provisions of the Clean Air Act.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
1. honors the Clean Air Act by declaring, March 23, 2010, as Clean Air Act Day in the City of Pittsburgh; and
2. applauds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for listening to health professionals and scientists and proposing new smog limits that will protect our health and environment; and
3. recognizes the urgency of supporting the integrity of the Clean Air Act and believes that the City of Pittsburgh has a part to play in this endeavor; and
4. encourages the U.S. Congress, and Pennsylvania's Senators Arlen Specter ...
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