Kentucky and West Virginia Attorneys General Back Endangerment Finding Reversal

FRANKFORT, KY. - Twenty-six Republican Attorneys General, led by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and West Virginia Attorney General John "JB" McCuskey, have submitted a letterto the Environmental Protection Agency in support of rescinding the longstanding greenhouse gas endangerment finding.

The 2009 endangerment finding is the single most important provision authorizing the United States government to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from major sources of pollution including power plants, motor vehicles, and aircraft. Based on overwhelming scientific evidence that greenhouse gases endanger our health and our economy, the finding was first adopted following rigorous rulemaking and has since been upheld unanimously in federal court.

Repealing the finding will devastate the EPA's ability to carry out its primary authority to limit climate pollution under the federal Clean Air Act.

"By championing to end the endangerment finding, Attorney General Coleman has chosen the side of polluters over Kentuckians," said Julia Finch, Sierra Club Kentucky Chapter Director. "Careless fossil fuel corporations would rather pass on high costs-including expensive damages caused by extreme weather, exacerbated health conditions, and possible loss of life- to people than address climate change head on. We will continue to advocate for accountability and an end to the reckless exploitation of our local communities for corporate gain."

"Attorney General McCuskey and the EPA are obligated to protect the public, not the financial interests of polluters that profit from poisoning communities," said Jim Kotcon, Sierra Club West Virginia Chair. "Corporate handouts are no solution, they only dig a deeper hole for our state and others that bear the health, safety, and financial burden of costly, highly polluting coal facilities. There is no question, West Virginians will pay the price if the Trump administration should succeed in its efforts to end the endangerment finding. It's time our leaders put people first and protect our neighbors, water, and air from pollution at the hands of money-hungry corporations."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.