FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

CONTACTS:
David Baron, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500
Carrie Martin, American Lung Association, (202) 715-3461
John Walke, Natural Resources Defense Council, (202) 289-2406
Mark Wenzler, National Parks Conservation Association, (202) 255-9013
Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense Fund, (720) 837-6239

Washington, DC – Health and environmental advocates are filing suit today challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to adopt stronger ozone standards urged by its own scientists. (more…)

Washington, DC (March 12, 2008). Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a critical tightening of the health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone. We wish we could be happier about this decision, but we cannot. The standard announced today, although an improvement, falls far short of the requirements of the Clean Air Act. We are unable to celebrate half measures when the risks are so evident, when the science and the scientists are so united about what is needed and when the missed opportunity means that thousands will suffer more and die sooner than they should. Furthermore, we reject the suggestions made by the Administrator to weaken and undermine the Clean Air Act itself. Coming from the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, such suggestions are truly outrageous. (more…)

It’s coming down to the wire. What’s literally at stake is the quality of the air we breathe.

The U.S. EPA is on the verge of deciding if national health standards for smog should be made tougher. (more…)

A broad, bipartisan coalition of members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter October 2, 2007 to the Environmental Protection Agency calling for strong limits on smog pollution. (more…)

Statement of Norman Edelman, MD
Chief Medical Officer
American Lung Association
June 21, 2007

The proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone smog announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are a step toward cleaner air.  While the American Lung Association is pleased that the EPA is calling for tighter standards, the agency’s plan falls short of the goal recommended by its own scientific experts.  We are particularly concerned that the EPA has left the door open to choosing options that are simply not acceptable.  We have reason to be concerned.  (more…)

It’s big polluters versus health and science –  And an EPA decision hangs in the balance (more…)

It’s true: smog isn’t usually a headline-grabber in the middle of winter.  But there’s a reason you might want to pay attention now.

The U.S. EPA is reviewing the science that supports national health standards for smog.  And we’re on the verge of a major milestone. (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…)

Statement from John L. Kirkwood, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Lung Association

December 7, 2006.  New York, NY.  The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today an unprecedented decision to seriously weaken the process for determining the level of air pollution that is safe to breathe.  The American Lung Association urges EPA to reconsider this flawed decision and restore the process that has worked for over 30 years.  (more…)

Statement of John L. Kirkwood
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Lung Association
On the release of the
Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee Recommendations
On Revisions to the National Ozone Standards

(more…)