U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced Wednesday the agency would reconsider the national smog standards released in 2008 under the Bush administration to ensure they are scientifically sound and protective of human health.
Smog, which is also known as ground level ozone, has been linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The standards set by the Bush administration were criticized by environmentalists for falling short of the 60-70 parts per million scientists and health experts believe is needed to protect children
New York and 13 other states filed a law suit against the EPA in May 2008, claiming the agency violated the Clean Air Act in its revision of the pollution regulations.
EPA said it will conduct a thorough review of the science that guided the 2008 decision, including more than 1,700 scientific studies and any public comments from that rulemaking process. The agency will also review the findings of EPA’s independent Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, which recommended the stronger smog standards.
"This is one of the most important protection measures we can take to safeguard our health and our environment. Smog in the air we breathe can cause difficulty breathing and aggravate asthma, especially in children," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Reconsidering these standards and ensuring acceptable levels of ground-level ozone could cut health care costs and make our cities healthier, safer places to live, work and play."
The reconsideration covers both the primary and secondary ozone standards. EPA sets primary air quality standards to protect public health, including the health of sensitive groups, such as children and people with asthma. The secondary standard is set to protect public welfare and the environment, including protection against visibility impairment, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.
The agency said it will propose any revisions to the ozone standards by December 2009 and will issue a final decision by August 2010.
To reduce the workload for states during the interim period of reconsideration, the agency will propose to stay the 2008 standards for the purpose of attainment and nonattainment area designations.
Ground-level ozone forms when emissions from industrial facilities, power plants, landfills and motor vehicles react in the presence of sunlight. Scientific studies have linked ozone exposure to respiratory health problems ranging from decreased lung function and aggravated asthma to increased emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and even premature death. Seasonal ozone exposure has also been linked to adverse effects on sensitive vegetation, forests and ecosystems.
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