Senate Transportation Bill Steamrolls Environment And Public Health

(12 February 2003 — Washington, D.C.)  Environmental Defense called the version of the transportation bill passed today by the Senate a giant step backwards for public health and the environment. 

“This bill wipes out the balance and common sense that evolved over the last four decades of transportation policy,” said Michael Replogle, Environmental Defense transportation director.  “It is an affront to the 170 million Americans who live in communities that fail to meet basic air quality standards.  If it becomes law, this bill will make air quality worse and reduce the ability of communities to make clean transportation choices.  We will look to the House to restore balance and make better choices for the health of all Americans.”

The bill will severely roll back the Clean Air Act (CAA) by allowing major highway expansion to proceed without consideration of long-term environmental or health impact.  Attacks to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will block public participation in transportation planning decisions, curb consideration of alternatives to road expansion and remove long-standing protections to the country?s environmental resources.