Dan's Outside

Another EPA 'Decision' Affected by Timidity or Meddling?

The same process that derailed the California greenhouse gas automotive regulations seems to be at work here.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a modest tightening of the smog standard on Wednesday evening, overruling the unanimous advice of its scientific advisory council for a more protective standard.

The standard, stated in terms of average concentrations of ozone at ground level over an eight-hour period, is now 84 parts per billion. Mr. Johnson’s decision, if it survives court review, would lower that to 75, although implementation could be decades away. Late last year a scientific advisory panel recommended 60 to 70 parts per billion.

(From a New York Times article.)

March 13, 2008 - Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary, Environment