EPA Issues New Proposed Rules on Carbon Pollution Emissions for Power Plants
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally released its proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. When implemented, this rule will essentially keep carbon emissions from power plants constant, by aiming for a trivial 25-year decrease of only 0.7 to 1.5 percent by 2030.
Not only does the plan result in only miniscule reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, it also continues the emissions of other major air pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, mercury, and other heavy metal emissions.
The ATS is also concerned that the proposed rule applies a “threshold effect” when developing cost/benefit estimates for proposal rules. EPA assumes that reducing particulate matter pollution below the current standard will not yield additional health benefits. This “threshold effect” assumption is not supported by science.
Deadlines Approaching Aug. 31: Assemblies Call for Nominations
As a member of the American Thoracic Society, we greatly value your input. Several ATS assemblies are seeking internal nominations for leadership positions.
Assemblies currently seeking nominations include:
- Allergy, Immunology and Inflammation.
- Behavioral Science and Health Services Research.
- Critical Care.
- Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health.
- Nursing.
- Pulmonary Circulation.
- Pediatrics.
- Pulmonary Infections and Tuberculosis.
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
- Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
- Respiratory Structure and Function.
- Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology.
- Thoracic Oncology.
Submission of a nomination does not guarantee selection by the Nominating Committee. All final candidates will be contacted by the Nominating Committee Chair or its members.
Upcoming ATS Webinar: “How to Make a High-Quality Qualitative Research Study: When Your Data Are Words”
Qualitative research is an increasingly important and compelling research method. Join Molly Hayes, MD, and Bridget O’Brien, PhD, for a conversation moderated by Lekshmi Santhosh, MD, exploring the world of qualitative research methodology.
The webinar will address the types of studies for which qualitative methods could be useful, design appropriate qualitative research questions, and discuss common pitfalls in qualitative research. The webinar will also discuss the application of these to PCCM (pulmonary/critical care) educational research.
When: Thursday, Sept. 20,2 p.m.–3 p.m. EST
Where: Online. Register here.
Submit Today to BAVLS Fall Cycle Best of ATS Video Lecture Series (BAVLS)
The Best of ATS Video Lecture Series (BAVLS) invites all members of the ATS Community to submit a teaching video for consideration in the 2018 BAVLS Fall Cycle. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 15, 2018.
All accepted BAVLS submissions will be eligible to receive web publication citations and acknowledgement from the ATS. Additionally, there will be a unique web link to each video for use in CV’s.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three videos at the ATS 2019 International Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Past BAVLS videos are available on the ATS website.
Please send any questions to Vladimir Crevecoeur.
Reminder: Pulmonary Circulation Assembly Announces its Next Journal Club
The Pulmonary Circulation Assembly is pleased to announce that its next Journal Club will feature Daniel Lachant, DO, from the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Dr. Lachant will present the article: "Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment with carvedilol for heart failure: a randomized controlled trial,”JCI Insight. 2017 Aug 17;2(16).doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.95240. He will be joined by lead author Samar Farha, MD (Cleveland Clinic), as well as discussion panelist Jim White, MD (University of Rochester).
When: Aug. 28, 1 p.m. EDT.
Where: Online. Advance registration is requested.
