SEEC Member Statement on Final Ozone Standards

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released strengthened National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone pollution, the main ingredient in smog. The EPA has announced an ozone standard of 70 parts per billions (ppb), an improvement over the current standard of 75 ppb which is widely considered by the medical community to inadequately protect public health. SEEC members released the following statement:

“We appreciate the EPA taking this important step to strengthen national air quality standards. Although a more stringent ozone standard would have had even greater public health benefits, the new standard will help save lives, reduce asthma attacks, and prevent additional missed school and work days. The input of all stakeholders is an important part of the regulatory process, but we believe that the scientific and medical consensus should be the principal consideration in setting public health standards, especially when vulnerable populations like children, seniors, and people with respiratory problems are most threatened by unsafe air pollution levels.”