EPA Toughens Ozone Standard

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EPA Toughens Ozone Standard For First Time Since 1997


By Siobhan Hughes, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday issued new rules aimed at limiting smog, disappointing both businesses that had hoped to avoid more stringent regulations and environmentalists who had sought tougher standards.

The EPA tightened ozone standards for the first time in more than a decade, setting a nationwide limit of 0.075 parts per million from 0.08. That was a higher concentration than recommended by outside science advisors, who had said that a 0.07 level was the maximum acceptable. Factories, utilities and carmakers had urged the agency to leave ozone standards at levels in place since 1997.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said in a statement that the agency was " keeping our clean air progress moving forward."

Ozone is considered beneficial at the upper-most reaches of the atmosphere because it protects against the sun's ultraviolet rays. But at the ground level, the gas - the primary component of smog - is associated with respiratory problems such as wheezing and coughing, and is thought to increase susceptibility to pneumonia and bronchitis.


It looks like our meaningless feel good measures in place to deal with our ozone problems in Tulsa will finally catch up to us. I wonder if our environmental powers that be will just continue on the same path of begging the feds to bend the rules for us, or they will finally start advocating for changes that will actually address the problems? Either way, get ready to be on the dirty air list. I hate to say I told you so. Spin this, Spincycle.

[RecycleMichael]

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