The Biden administration is tightening air pollution restrictions — a move it says will save thousands of lives but is meeting pushback from industry, which argues it will harm the economy.
The decision to tighten the restrictions on pollution from small particles, commonly referred to as soot, comes as a reversal of the Trump administration, which decided in 2020 to maintain a less stringent standard.
In 2032, the first year that states will be required to meet the standard, the rule is expected to prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said.
EPA also projects that 99 percent of U.S. counties would reduce their pollution to the levels required under the rule with or without the agency’s action — as other policies are also shifting much of the country away from polluting vehicles and energy sources.
But areas that will not already meet the new standard will have to bring down their pollution levels — through state-led policies like requiring emitters to install pollution control technology — to meet the requirements.
A spokesperson for the agency told The Hill via email that many counties projected to exceed the standards are highly and densely populated, so pollution reductions there will impact many people — resulting in significant health benefits.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan told reporters the rule would be “protecting millions of Americans and building a cleaner and healthier nation.”
Exposure to this type of pollution has been linked to premature death, heart attacks and decreased lung function.
Republicans and industry have pushed back on the EPA’s move, saying compliance will be too difficult and ultimately harm the economy.
“Today’s announcement is the latest in a growing list of short-sighted policy actions that have no scientific basis and prioritize foreign energy and manufacturing from unstable regions of the world over American jobs, manufacturing, and national security,” said a written statement from Will Hupman, vice president of downstream policy with the American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas lobbying group.
In the rule itself, the EPA notes that the proposal is expected to result in $590 million in costs in 2032 as industry will have to implement pollution control technology.
The EPA also puts the rule’s benefits, which includes improvements to public health, at between $22 billion and $46 billion.
Ahead of November’s election, Republicans have sought to paint Biden’s record as generally bad for the economy, tensions that Wednesday’s move is sure to inflame.
“The Biden administration’s punishing air standard finalized today is simply not realistic to meet,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), in a written statement.
“To comply with this rule, states will need to limit development across large areas of the country, threatening manufacturing and energy projects, limiting economic growth, and leaving millions of Americans behind to deal with the negative consequences,” said Capito, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The EPA rule would set the standard for annual average air pollution at a level of 9 micrograms per cubic meter, down from 12 set under former President Obama and maintained under former President Trump.
It is at the tighter end of what EPA proposed last year, at which point it said it planned to tighten air pollution limits to somewhere between 9 and 10 micrograms.
Yet, it is also not as protective as the 8 micrograms per cubic meter level pushed by many environmental groups. Studies cited by EPA as part of its rule found a threshold of 8 micrograms could double the number of lives saved.
Nevertheless, many environmental advocates cheered the rule overall.
“We’re glad to see the Biden Administration answered the call to reduce harmful soot pollution,” said Sierra Club executive director Ben Jealous in a written statement. “The decision to strengthen the annual particulate matter standards is more than just policy; it’s about securing clean and safe air for our families and communities.”
— Updated at 1:41 p.m.