URGING NATIONAL MULTI-POLLUTANT LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE AIR QUALITY
WHEREAS, the Nation's Mayors seek to provide affordable energy and clean air in their
communities; and
WHEREAS, under the Clean Air Act, States and local governments must attain the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect human health; and
WHEREAS, under the NAAQS, States and local governments will be required to designate by
early 2004 the attainment status of their jurisdictions with regard to the ozone and fine particulate
matter standards; and
WHEREAS, States are required to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for areas that do
not comply with the NAAQS in a process that is often politically contentious and resource-intensive; and
WHEREAS, city infrastructure investment, economic development decisions, and transportation
planning are constrained by emissions limits under SIPs; and
WHEREAS, air pollution does not respect jurisdictional boundaries and local governments have
recognized that significant emissions affecting nonattainment areas come from the power
generation sector; and
WHEREAS, the increasing support for a comprehensive national program to enhance clean air
standards through a multi-pollutant approach in the power sector is demonstrated by the numerous
different proposals that have been introduced by Congress and the Administration,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors encourages
Congress to set national air emission caps under a multi-pollutant plan at levels strong enough to
protect public health and the environment by substantively assisting cities in their efforts to attain
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports a comprehensive
and synchronized multi-pollutant market-based program to reduce regulatory costs, maintain
reliable energy at a reasonable cost for consumers, and provide certainty to the electric power
sector, regulating officials and citizens; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors encourages the first
session of the 108th Congress to pass national legislation which will meet the U.S. Conference of
Mayors' goals by requiring power plants to reduce air emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide
and mercury by an average of 70% from 2000 emissions levels by 2020 under a proven market-based cap and trade program.
©2003 U.S. Conference of Mayors 
