COEJL Applauds New Diesel Emissions Standards

Washington, DC, May 12, 2004 - The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) supports the Bush Administration's "Clean Air Non-road Diesel Rule" released this week. The regulation will dramatically reduce emissions of soot, sulfur and other disease-causing pollutants from construction, agricultural and industrial diesel-powered equipment, and is a positive step in protecting the environment and the health of children.

"We applaud the Bush Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency in this case for their inclusive consultation process. They spoke with representatives of industry, environmental organizations, state and local governments, and public health advocates, and they worked together until they got the diesel rule right," said Adam C. Stern, executive director of COEJL and a leading environmental voice in the Jewish community.

The regulation will encourage innovations in pollution control in American industries - and when fully implemented over the next ten years - will prevent up to 12,000 premature deaths, one million lost work-days, 15,000 heart attacks and 6,000 children's asthma-related emergency room visits per year. The rule will also leave our air cleaner and our earth safer for future generations.

Jewish tradition teaches us of the paramount importance of Pikuah nefesh, the cautious protection of human health and life. While in the past COEJL has criticized many environmental policies of this Administration, today we congratulate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for taking the steps necessary to protect the public from harmful pollution.