A draft report from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has estimated that 14,000 to 24,000 premature deaths each year are attributable to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5). (more…)

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) will hold an oversight hearing on May 20, 2008 to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new ozone standards.

(more…)

In anticipation of the upcoming five-year review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), the U.S. EPA has appointed several new members to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and a number of additional consulting members to serve on the PM review panel.  (more…)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, but not to the levels recommended by its independent scientific advisors.  In addition, the Agency is taking comment on the option of retaining the existing standard, leaving open the possibility that a final rule would leave the existing standard unchanged. (more…)

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: 

http://www.euro.who.int/Document/E90038.pdf

A final EPA Staff Paper on the review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone air pollution concludes that the current standard is not protective of public health and must be strengthened.  (more…)

Health, Environmental Groups File Court Challenge to EPA Particulate Matter Pollution Standard 

EPA maintains nearly decade old annual pollution levels that has been linked to thousands of deaths annually

Washington, D.C., December 15, 2006 – Public health and environmental groups today filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for refusing to strengthen a nearly decade old national public health standard for particulate matter (PM) pollution to a level that could prevent thousands of premature deaths every year. Earthjustice filed the suit on behalf of the American Lung Association, Environmental Defense, and the National Parks Conservation Association. (more…)

An EPA scientific advisory panel has unanimously recommended that the United States adopt much stronger air quality standards for ozone smog.  The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) concluded that the standard “needs to be substantially reduced: and that there is “no scientific justification” for retaining the current standard.  The standards — which establish safe levels of pollution in the air — are undergoing review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  (more…)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded a nine-year review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) on September 20, 2006 by ratifying the pre-existing annual average standard for fine particles and somewhat lowering the 24-hour average standard.  (more…)

The seven permanent members of EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) sent EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson a letter dated September 29, 2006, officially condemning Johnson’s final decisions concerning the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter. (more…)