EPA Science Advisors Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthened Ozone Standards
EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) has issued some strong advice to EPA Administrator Steve Johnson on the need to strengthen the air quality standards for ozone. In a letter dated March 26, 2007, the scientists wrote:
“Ozone Panel members were unanimous in recommending that the level of the current primary ozone standard should be lowered from 0.08 ppm to no greater than 0.070 ppm.”
Further, the scientists emphasized the need to provide a margin of safety in standard-setting, as required by the Clean Air Act.
Read the full letter providing comments on EPA’s final ozone Staff Paper online:
http://www.epa.gov/sab/pdf/casac-07-002.pdf
The recommendations from the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee come on the heels of strong recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen air quality guidelines for ozone. The WHO report, issued in full on March 23, 2007, recommends an air quality guideline of 0.051 ppm ozone, 8-hour average, to protect against respiratory effects and premature deaths due to ozone. See the full report online:
