Back in October, US EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a measure to begin the process of repealing the Clean Power Plan, and right now, the EPA is holding a public comment period as they consider moving forward with the process. The CPP was designed to reduce carbon pollution and other harmful pollutants from power plants by as much as 32% below 2005 levels by 2030; and it provided each state with broad flexibility to meet this goal.

Power plants, and in particular those that burn coal, are one of the largest sources of carbon pollution in the nation, damaging our climate. Climate change leads to warmer ocean and air temperatures, increasing smog formation and particle pollution that cause asthma attacks and early deaths. EPA’s own analysis showed that that Clean Power Plan would prevent 90,000 pediatric asthma attacks and up to 4,500 premature deaths every year by 2030.

The CPP is the most important measure that the United States has taken against carbon pollution, which is why it’s repeal represents a dangerous threat to human health – especially those at higher risk, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory disease. It ignores the public health concerns of national health and medical associations, including the American Lung Association.

In Maine and other states in the northeast, we are paying a high price for carbon dioxide emitted from power plants to our west; not only by warming our atmosphere and increasing air pollution, but also by causing warmer, more acidic oceans that are causing sea level rise and more frequent and intense storms that lead to power outages, flooding and damage to roads and buildings.

In addition, the Gulf of Maine is already warming much faster than other parts of the world’s oceans, impacting shellfish, lobster and other fisheries. For example, it was recently announced that the moratorium on shrimp fishing in the Gulf of Maine will be continued once again this winter due to declining stocks.

Everyone in Maine has a vital stake in the EPA proceedings designed to do away with the Clean Power Plan, and we need to take a stand and speak out against the administration’s attempt to eliminate it.

I urge the EPA to prioritize the health and well being of Mainers and all Americans by continuing to protect the lifesaving Clean Power Plan; and I urge all of you to consider contacting EPA with your comments .

Rick Rumba is a Board Member of the American Lung Association — Maine, and a retired Environmental Health Specialist who lives in Harpswell with his wife, Lynne.