EPA Methane Pollution rules hearing statement, November 30, 2021

Testimony by John Maddaus  Albuquerque, NM

I am John Maddaus, and I am a resident of Albuquerque and a member of First Congregational Church UCC.

I support strong ozone precursor rules and strict enforcement of those rules.

The great tragedy of the industrial revolution of the last 300 years or so has been the externalization of costs and the increase of profits by dumping of toxic chemicals on our soils, into our waters, and into the air we breathe.

If this were a case of heavy toxic chemicals, such as mercury, being dumped on the soils of an industrial site and into the adjacent waters, the site would long ago have been designated a superfund site, and the responsible corporation forced to spend millions of dollars on clean-up.

Does dumping gaseous toxic chemicals like methane into the air make it OK, just because there is no identifiable site? No, it is not OK!

Already there are industrial sacrifice zones where these toxic gases have concentrated, and where it is difficult to live because it is difficult to breathe.

And as toxic gases are dispersed in the air, they contribute to heat waves, droughts, wildfires, extreme weather events, ocean acidification and sea level rise.

Already there are climate refugees fleeing our gulf coast, and nations such as Haiti and Honduras. If climate change continues there will eventually to no place to run to.

The atmosphere of our earth, upon which all life depends, is thin and fragile. We must protect it. Stop releases of methane and other toxic gases. NOW!

Thank you to the Environmental Improvement Board for this hearing and for all your work on this issue.