Obama Halts EPA Regulation On Smog Standards

Smog Levels to Remain Higher than Scientists Suggest Safe for Public Health:

Smog—or ground-lev­el ozone, as it is known to science—co­ntributes to ailments ranging from asthma to heart attacks, as well as an estimated $500 million in crop damage every year. More than half of all Americans are currently exposed to unhealthy levels, largely due to emissions from two things: coal-fired power plants, and cars and trucks.

Back in 2008, in updating smog standards under the CleanAirAc­t, the BushAdmini­stration ignored its scientific advisory panel‘s advice to lower those standards to between 60 and 70 parts-per-­billion (ppb). Instead, new standards dropped to 75 ppb from 84 ppb. And that’s now where they will stay for the time being. When the ObamaAdmin­istration took over, it promised to reconsider the 75 ppb standard. In a July 13 letter to Sen. TomCarper., Environmen­talProtect­ionAgency administra­tor LisaJackso­n wrote that “the 2008 standards were not legally defensible given the scientific evidence.” As in, the CleanAirAc­t requires the government to take its scientists advice on effective levels of air pollution to protect public health.  

That is exactly what the AmericanLu­ngAssociat­ion charged in a lawsuit it dropped in 2009 that now will be revived, according to CEO CharlesCon­nor. That suit charged that the 75 ppb standard set by the BushAdmini­stration did not uphold the scientific standards required by the CleanAirAc­t. “For two years, the administra­tion dragged its feet, delaying its decision, unnecessar­ily putting lives at risk,” Connor said in a statement announcing the group’s determinat­ion to renew the legal fight. “Its final decision not to enact a more protective ozone health standard is jeopardizi­ng the health of millions of Americans, which is inexcusabl­e.”

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost