EPA recommends lowering ozone pollutants 13-20%

Global Business

Two weeks after reaching a record deal with China to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. government has proposed a new environmental rule to reduce smog. CCTV America’s Jessica Stone reported this story from Washington D.C.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is recommending a reduction of ozone air pollutants between 13-20 percent.

EPA administrator Gina McCarthy announced the proposed changes on Wednesday, saying the agency has defended the American people’s right to breathe clean air for 44 years.

“It’s a legal obligation and fundamental reason why EPA making progress that was made, so president has every attention that EPA is doing its job both legal and following sound science,” McCarthy said.

According to the American Lung Association, one in 10 Americans has lung disease such as asthma linked to smog conditions, which would could be reduced by the proposed changes.

“If the proposal moves forward, we could see really significant reductions in smog that will lead to a really significant health benefits at the low end of the range, and we will see as many as 7,900 premature deaths avoided each year, and 1.8 million asthma attacks in children avoided each year,” said Paul Billings at American Lung Association.

The EPA estimated it could cost between $4 billion-$15 billion in 11 years for industries to comply.

The National Association of Manufacturers said the proposals will cost millions of jobs and potentially billions in economic growth, calling the standards the most expensive regulations ever issued.

Public health advocates said technology will ease the burden of compliance pointing to inventions like the catalytic converter to reduce auto emissions and power plant pollution controls.

But industry groups said companies are still bearing the cost of stricter regulations enacted six years ago, and cautions that consumer costs will increase if the proposal goes through.

“There’s no question that air quality is going to continue to improve over the next 15 years in the absence of this regulation,” said Greg Bertelsen at National Association of Manufacturers. “All we’re asking is that EPA allows us to implement the existing regulation, incur those costs, see where we are, before we move the sticks again.”


Bill Becker discusses EPA’s new air quality regulations

CCTV America interviewed Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, about the timing and impact of the new air quality standards.