In response to the proposed updates to national air quality standards, several Georgetown students from the College Democrats and GU Fossil Free in addition to university staff members testified at a hearing by the Environmental Protection Agency last week.

Through the testimony, they hope to give a personal twist to a national issue and encourage stricter environmental standards.

The hearing took place Thursday as part of the EPA’s effort to solicit input from the general public about national air quality standards for ground-level ozone, otherwise known as smog. It has proposed strengthening standards to a level within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion, while taking comment on a level as low as 60 ppb. Currently, the standard is 75 ppb.

Various environmental groups on campus including GU College Democrats and GU Fossil Free encouraged interested members to attend the hearing.

The students and staff members who participated prepared for the hearing by learning about the facts and finding a personal appeal. Instead of focusing solely on abstract numbers and concepts, many of them related air quality standards to personal experiences.

GU College Democrats environmental advocacy leader Graham Willard (SFS ’18) attended the hearing on Thursday and submitted testimony. Growing up in Los Angeles, Willard said that his hometown experience remains the biggest motivation behind his dedication to environmental causes and drove him to testify at the EPA hearing.

“In Los Angeles, we have bad air quality, fires and smogs,” Willard said. “Although we are not experts on science, we do have the ability to put a human face as to why improving air quality is important.”

Nina Sherburne, a staff member at the Hoya Kids Learning Center under the university’s Human Resource department and a member of GU Fossil Free, was unable to attend the hearing in person, but handed her testimony to a friend to be read on her behalf. In her testimony, she chose to share stories of her preschool students battling asthma and other conditions to make the fight for clean air personal.

“Think about the amount of time, energy, resources and dollars that are spent battling smog and its effects,” Sherburne wrote in her testimony. “If you choose the limit of 60 parts per billion, imagine the gift of freedom you will give to this country. What might we, as a society, be if air quality was never an issue? And who might my student become if he were able to step into the world and just breathe?”

Both Sherburne and Willard said that they wanted to show the EPA that human health is just as important as other concerns people may have.

“There are a lot of people who don’t view the environment as the number one issue of importance in this country, and they believe that you either create jobs or protect the environment.” Willard said. “It is really important to get through this notion. You can create jobs and protect the environment at the same time.”

The EPA will continue to accept written comments on the proposed standards until March 17, and the agency is scheduled to issue a final rule by Oct. 1.

GU College Democrats Chairman Matthew Gregory (SFS ‘17) said that his student group will be closely following the resolution of the issue.

“If it continues to be in limbo, there is a possibility that members of the [College Democrats] might consider meeting with some lawmakers to discuss why we thought it’s important and why there should be continued push for more regulation for making business align with the interests of the common good rather than simply profit-seeking,” Gregory said.

Gregory also hopes to raise awareness among the campus population of important government policies on environmental issues.

“We plan to work together with other on-campus student groups such as GU Fossil Free and hope to get a campus movement in support of environmental measures and energy measures we feel are beneficial for the nation and for the future,” Gregory said.