(TRENTON) -- Governor James E. McGreevey today issued the following statement after the EPA identified areas in New Jersey that the agency is proposing do not meet the federal standards for fine particulate pollution.

“Small particles in the air pose an enormous threat to the health of our residents, and we need strong action both within our borders and outside the state to reduce that threat.  As the EPA takes its first steps with today's announcement to implement the new, more protective federal standard for small particles, the Bush Administration continues to take away the tools states need to meet this new standard.  Beyond just identifying where public health is threatened by these fine particles, EPA must also carry out its full responsibility to help states attain these health-based standards and control out of state pollution sources.

“While the Bush Administration backs away from its duty to protect public health, New Jersey continues to cut air pollution from the power plants inside the state and in nearby states that contribute to the problem.  New Jersey’s proposed mercury rule – one of the most stringent in the nation – will cut by almost 50 percent in-state sources of these particles and, working with the legislature, we are moving forward with a diesel initiative that will clean up many of the engines operating in our state that contribute to fine particle pollution.

“Unfortunately, at the same time, the EPA has backed away from using the Clean Air Act to force the nation's dirtiest power plants, which contribute one third of New Jersey's air pollution, to install the pollution controls required by the law.  As it abdicates its responsibility to implement the federal law, and puts the interests of these polluters ahead of public health, the EPA instead offers weak proposals that give the states too little help, too late.

“My administration will continue to fight to protect air and health of New Jersey's families.   I call upon the federal government to do the same.”