EPA delays tougher air pollution rules

“[EPA] Administrator [Lisa] Jackson proposed that EPA select a standard in the range 
that CASAC indicated would be protective of Americans’ health. As part
 of EPA’s extensive review of the science, Administrator Jackson will ask
 CASAC for further interpretation of the epidemiological and clinical
 studies they used to make their recommendation,” he said in a statement.

EPA first floated the tougher rules in draft form last January. The agency is
rejecting the Bush administration’s 2008 standard of 0.075 parts per
million (ppm), and is instead proposing a standard in the range of
0.060-0.070 ppm.

“To ensure EPA’s decision is grounded in the best science, EPA will review the input 
CASAC provides before the new standard is selected. Given this ongoing
 scientific review, EPA intends to set a final standard in the range 
recommended by the CASAC by the end of July, 2011,” Gilfillan added.

Tougher ozone standards will “help prevent up to 12,000 premature deaths, 58,000 cases of aggravated asthma and save up to $100 billion in health costs,” the EPA spokesman said.

He added that the agency is moving ahead with several other clean air rules. “These include rules designed to reduce harmful emissions from cars, power plants and other industrial facilities that contribute to ozone formation. Taking additional time to complete the scientific review of the ozone standard will not delay the public health benefits of these rules,” he said.

Groups including the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute have called the proposed range of ozone standards too aggressive. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has listed the rules among “job-killing” EPA policies that he said he will seek to turn back.

The delay drew a quick attack from Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who leads the subcommittee on the full Environment and Public Works Committee that oversees air pollution policy.

“The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision leaves thousands of Delawareans and millions of Americans unprotected from harmful ozone air pollution under an outdated, ineffective ozone standard,” he said in a statement. “This decision also keeps states in limbo about what standards they need to meet, forcing them to continue to postpone significant decisions today to clean our air tomorrow.”

Frank O’Donnell, head of the environmental group Clean Air Watch, also lamented the new delay, noting it is just the latest of several times the tougher rules have been pushed back.

“This is a bitter pill to swallow. The EPA has had many months to evaluate the relevant issues, including further consultation with the agency’s science advisers,” he said.
 
“It is hard to avoid the impression that EPA is running scared from the incoming Congress,” O’Donnell added.

—This post was updated at 1:50 p.m.