EPA pushes tougher smog rules

[kpete]

Source: The Hill


EPA pushes tougher smog rules
By Ben Geman - 01/07/10 11:01 AM ET

The Environmental Protection Agency rolled out draft rules Thursday that would toughen Bush-era standards for air quality.

EPA said the rules on smog-forming pollutants are intented to protect public health. The agency specifically is tightening National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone imposed by the Bush administration that activists and the agency’s science advisers called too weak.

Frank O’Donnell, president of the advocacy group Clean Air Watch, calls the new rules “the most significant environmental step the Obama administration will take this year.”

The agency is rejecting the Bush administration’s 2008 standard of 0.075 parts per million (ppm), and is instead proposing a standard in the range of 0.060-0.070 ppm.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/74733-epa-proposing-tougher-smog-standards

[onehandle]

1. Thank you President Nixon and President Obama.

Those liberal extremists.

[SpartanDem]

2. EPA Replacing Bush Smog Limit With Stricter Rule

Source: ABC News

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed stricter health standards for smog, replacing a Bush-era limit that ran counter to scientific recommendations.

The new limits — which are presented as a range — will likely put hundreds more counties nationwide in violation, a designation that will require them to find additional ways to clamp down on pollution or face government sanctions, most likely the loss of federal highway dollars.

The tighter standards will cost tens of billions of dollars to implement, but will ultimately save billions in avoided emergency room visits, premature deaths, and missed work and school days, the EPA said.

The proposed range was what scientists had recommended during the Bush administration. However, former President George W. Bush personally intervened and set the standard above what was advised after protests from electric utilities and other industries.


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9501971

[goforit]

3. Maybe americans can sue GW Bush for the last 8 yrs of health effects of his standards.

[SpartanDem]

5. That would be the ultimate class action lawsuit

[Zoeisright]

4. So does this mean Democrats are the same as Repukes?

Gee, guess not.

:sarcasm:

[TomCADem]

6. Wow! Relying On Science? Isn't That A Tad Extreme?

Imagine that, the EPA relying on science. How far we fell under Bush is just amazing.