Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a stricter nationwide health standard for smog-causing pollutants that would bring substantial benefits to millions of Americans.
Earlier
this
year
,
the
Environmental
Protection
Agency
proposed
a
stricter
nationwide
health
standard
for
smog-causing
pollutants
that
would
bring
substantial
benefits
to
millions
of
Americans
.
With a final rule expected by the end of this month, some opponents, mainly from industrial and oil-producing states, are pushing back.
With
a
final
rule
expected
by
the
end
of
this
month
,
some
opponents
,
mainly
from
industrial
and
oil-producing
states
,
are
pushing
back
.
They say investments required to produce cleaner air are too expensive and not scientifically justified.
They
say
investments
required
to
produce
cleaner
air
are
too
expensive
and
not
scientifically
justified
.
Lisa Jackson, the E.P.A.
Lisa
Jackson
,
the
E.P.A
.
administrator, needs to stick to her guns.
administrator
,
needs
to
stick
to
her
guns
.
This is only the first of several political tests to come this fall, as she also seeks to tighten rules governing individual pollutants like mercury and global warming gases like carbon dioxide.
This
is
only
the
first
of
several
political
tests
to
come
this
fall
,
as
she
also
seeks
to
tighten
rules
governing
individual
pollutants
like
mercury
and
global
warming
gases
like
carbon
dioxide
.
The health standard she is proposing covers ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when sunlight mixes with pollutants from factories, refineries, power plants and automobiles.
The
health
standard
she
is
proposing
covers
ground-level
ozone
,
commonly
known
as
smog
,
which
is
formed
when
sunlight
mixes
with
pollutants
from
factories
,
refineries
,
power
plants
and
automobiles
.
Ozone is a major health threat, contributing to heart disease and various respiratory problems.
Ozone
is
a
major
health
threat
,
contributing
to
heart
disease
and
various
respiratory
problems
.
Ms. Jackson's proposal--to reduce the permitted level of smog in the air from the current 75 parts per billion to between 60 parts per billion and 70 parts per billion--is sensible, no matter what industry's defenders may claim.
Ms.
Jackson
's
proposal
--
to
reduce
the
permitted
level
of
smog
in
the
air
from
the
current
75
parts
per
billion
to
between
60
parts
per
billion
and
70
parts
per
billion
--
is
sensible
,
no
matter
what
industry
's
defenders
may
claim
.
It had been recommended by the agency's independent scientific panel but rejected by the Bush administration, which proposed a weaker standard.
It
had
been
recommended
by
the
agency
's
independent
scientific
panel
but
rejected
by
the
Bush
administration
,
which
proposed
a
weaker
standard
.
Industry will have to make investments in cleaner power plants, and new technologies may be required.
Industry
will
have
to
make
investments
in
cleaner
power
plants
,
and
new
technologies
may
be
required
.
As it is, about half the counties that monitor ozone levels are not yet in compliance with current standards, let alone the proposed standard.
As
it
is
,
about
half
the
counties
that
monitor
ozone
levels
are
not
yet
in
compliance
with
current
standards
,
let
alone
the
proposed
standard
.
Fears about burdening industry raised by critics like George Voinovich, a Republican of Ohio, and Mary Landrieu, a Democrat of Louisiana, cannot be dismissed out of hand, especially in the middle of a recession.
Fears
about
burdening
industry
raised
by
critics
like
George
Voinovich
,
a
Republican
of
Ohio
,
and
Mary
Landrieu
,
a
Democrat
of
Louisiana
,
can
not
be
dismissed
out
of
hand
,
especially
in
the
middle
of
a
recession
.
But the health benefits, E.P.A.
But
the
health
benefits
,
E.P.A
.
says, far outweigh the costs, and the time frame for compliance is generous.
says
,
far
outweigh
the
costs
,
and
the
time
frame
for
compliance
is
generous
.
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a stricter nationwide health standard for smog-causing pollutants that would bring substantial benefits to millions of Americans. With a final rule expected by the end of this month, some opponents, mainly from industrial and oil-producing states, are pushing back. They say investments required to produce cleaner air are too expensive and not scientifically justified.  Lisa Jackson, the E.P.A. administrator, needs to stick to her guns. This is only the first of several political tests to come this fall, as she also seeks to tighten rules governing individual pollutants like mercury and global warming gases like carbon dioxide.  The health standard she is proposing covers ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when sunlight mixes with pollutants from factories, refineries, power plants and automobiles. Ozone is a major health threat, contributing to heart disease and various respiratory problems.  Ms. Jackson's proposal--to reduce the permitted level of smog in the air from the current 75 parts per billion to between 60 parts per billion and 70 parts per billion--is sensible, no matter what industry's defenders may claim. It had been recommended by the agency's independent scientific panel but rejected by the Bush administration, which proposed a weaker standard.  Industry will have to make investments in cleaner power plants, and new technologies may be required. As it is, about half the counties that monitor ozone levels are not yet in compliance with current standards, let alone the proposed standard.  Fears about burdening industry raised by critics like George Voinovich, a Republican of Ohio, and Mary Landrieu, a Democrat of Louisiana, cannot be dismissed out of hand, especially in the middle of a recession. But the health benefits, E.P.A. says, far outweigh the costs, and the time frame for compliance is generous.