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…)

On October 16, 2007, EPA issued a draft Integrated Review Plan for the next periodic review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter.  The draft plan is subject to review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and by the public.  (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…)

A number of leading public health organizations including Physicians for Social Responsibiity, the American Heart Association, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the American Nurses Association, the American Lung Association, and others have filed comments with EPA in support of stringent new air quality standards for ozone smog.   

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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…)

A long parade of witnesses spoke in support of tighter ozone air quality standards at EPA public hearings in Philadelphia and Los Angeles on August 30, 2007.  Some of the more interesting statements are posted below.

Additional public hearings will be held in Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta on September 5, 2007.  To sign up to speak at the public hearings, go to: 

http://epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/naaqsrev2007.html 

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What are the top ten ozone health studies show effects at concentrations of 60 ppb? 

Lung Association consultant Deborah Shprentz presented the top ten list in testimony on the proposed revisions to the EPA air quality standards for ozone at a public hearing in Philadelphia on August 30, 2007.    (more…)

On June 21, 2007 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to strengthen the official “limit” on ground level ozone smog. Unfortunately, EPA’s proposal fails to follow the law and protect public health adequately from this widespread and dangerous air pollutant. Overwhelming scientific evidence, including reviews by independent scientists, confirm that public health is seriously at risk and needs much more protection.  EPA will take comments until October 9, 2007, including at five public hearings on August 30 and September 5.  The American Lung Association and many other medical societies, public health and environmental groups are urging EPA to adopt standards that provide much more protection.

For more information on what you can do and for details on the public hearings, please refer to the fact sheet available here:  8-2-07 Ozone Standards Action Alert

A major medical association, the American Thoracic Society, has laid out the case for EPA to strengthen the air quality standard for ozone smog.  (more…)