EPA Reinstates Smog Health Standards In Cities Across The Country

Environmental Defense today praised the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for reinstating long-standing smog health standards in numerous areas across the country. EPA’s action corrects a series of earlier decisions that left these communities without an operative federal limit on smog concentrations. Ozone smog air pollution damages lung tissue, reduces lung function, and makes the lungs susceptible to other irritants.

EPA’s action resolves lawsuits by Environmental Defense, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and other organizations to ensure communities put in place durable, long-term strategies to curb smog air pollution before EPA declares an area is in compliance with the health-based standards.

“EPA deserves a great deal of credit for this important, sensible action to help protect millions of Americans from the harmful effects of smog,” said Environmental Defense federal transportation director Michael Replogle. “EPA’s action will help ensure communities put in place long-term safeguards for clean air.”

In 1997, EPA issued a new, enhanced smog health standard. Soon after, EPA began repealing the old smog standard in hundreds of areas across the country. In 1999, an adverse federal court decision cast doubt on EPA’s authority to implement the new smog standard. The net result of repealing the old standard and the legal uncertainty surrounding the new standard left numerous communities without an operative federal health standard for smog air pollution and eliminated safeguards to assure that transportation activities would not compromise air quality and public health.

Today’s corrective action would reinstate the original, long-standing smog health standard in numerous communities and require protective smog air quality control measures in areas that were in “nonattainment” with the original standard. These areas include Boston, Atlantic City, Albany, Buffalo, Poughkeepsie, Providence, Allentown (Penn.), Harrisburg (Penn.), Scranton (Penn.), Denver, Portland (Maine), Flint (Mich.), Reno, Manchester (NH), and Salem (Ore.).

“EPA’s action fills a major gap in the nation’s smog control program,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton. “Reinstating the smog standard will help ensure that clean, healthy air isn’t an accident but based on thoughtful long-term strategies to protect public health.”