Gallego Fights for Yuma Economy, Calls on EPA to Not Punish City for Pollution Outside Its Control

Gallego Fights for Yuma Economy, Calls on EPA to Not Punish City for Pollution Outside Its Control

PHOENIX - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03)sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the Agency to use administrative flexibility to work with the City of Yuma to ensure that PM10 particulate matter standards are effectively targeting air pollution at the source. The City of Yuma's unique position on the border means much of the City's air pollution is outside of its control.

"The bottom line is that PM10 enforcement measures may not effectively target a large part of the emissions in Yuma, since they are not produced by the city itself," Rep. Gallego wrote. "However, extreme federal responses to noncompliance could threaten the city's potential for business and economic development - which would be a detriment to the entire Yuma region - and an agricultural sector that provides much of the produce consumed in the United States throughout the winter months."

"Collaboration between Yuma and the EPA as advocated by Rep. Gallego to safeguard the health of our citizens while providing opportunity for smart growth is what is needed for the Yuma community. It is important that the agency's regulations for PM10 allow for flexibility for beneficial growth and effective solutions for protecting Yuma's air quality," said Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls.

"To that end, I request that you work with Arizona localities to identify solutions that effectively work to protect the area's air quality," Rep. Gallego concludes. "We all share the same goal of improving the area's air quality, and working together would move us in the right direction."

Full text of the letter can be found HERE.