Monroe, MI -- On Monday, September 15, President Bush stopped at the dirtiest power plant in Michigan to promote his air pollution plan called the "Clear Skies Initiative." According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, under the President's plan the DTE Monroe plant will not be required to cut any of its soot-forming sulfur dioxide pollution, which is responsible for hundreds of premature deaths and respiratory illnesses.

"It's ironic that the president would choose the plant that pumps out more pollution than any other in the state to sell his "Clear Skies" plan," said Vicki Levengood, Michigan Representative, National Environmental Trust. "His plan won't clean up the Monroe plant, or any other dirty power plant in Michigan. It's nothing more than a gift to corporate special interests."

According to EPA's own analysis of the president's air pollution plan, the Monroe plant will not be required to reduce its emissions of soot-forming sulfur dioxide (SO2). In 2001, the plant emitted 102,700 tons of sulfur dioxide. EPA's analysis of the president's plan indicates that this plant will continue to emit 102,700 tons of SO2 upon full implementation. By contrast, the EPA data shows that under faithful implementation of the Clean Air Act, Monroe's emissions of SO2 in 2020 would be only 10,000 tons—a 90% reduction in emissions.

According to methods sanctioned by the EPA, based on current emissions, the Monroe power plant is annually responsible for:
· 293 premature deaths;
· 5,740 asthma attacks; and
· 50,398 lost work days.

"The government's own data shows that nearly 300 people a year will die prematurely from this plant's pollution alone, and thousands will suffer asthma attacks and lost work days," said Megan Owens, Field Director for PIRGIM (the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan). "The president is playing politics with public health."

This visit comes only days after the administration gutted an important provision in the Clean Air Act called New Source Review. This rule change will allow dirty power plants, like the one in Monroe, to not only escape cleaning up, but to pollute even more. EPA officials have claimed that air permits at these facilities will hold pollution at current levels. However, based on an analysis of the Monroe plant's air permit, it could, under the new rules legally pump out over 36,000 tons of additional sulfur dioxide.