Obama administration proposes smog cleanup

Businesses across the US could soon face tough new air quality rules after the Obama administration yesterday proposed tighter standards that would require state and local authorities to act to reduce levels of smog.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft proposals that, if adopted, would reduce the current limit for the ground-level ozone that constitutes smog from 0.075 parts per million (ppm) to between 0.06 and 0.07ppm.

The existing 0.075ppm standard had been controversially retained under the previous administration when in early 2008 president George W Bush personally intervened to reject recommendations from a scientific advisory panel that the limit be lowered.

The move prompted legal action against the EPA from environmental groups and the Agency has now moved to bring its smog standards into line with the advisory panel's recommendations.

"The EPA is stepping up to protect Americans from one of the most persistent and widespread pollutants we face," said Lisa Jackson, the EPA's administrator. "Smog in the air we breathe poses a very serious health threat, especially to children and individuals suffering from asthma and lung disease. It dirties our air, clouds our cities and drives up our healthcare costs across the country."

The EPA said the proposed standards, which are now subject to a 60-day consultation period, would cost between $19bn (£11.8bn) and $90bn a year by 2020 to enforce, but would deliver annual savings of between $13bn and $100bn in healthcare costs.

It also proposed the introduction of a "secondary" standard, which would protect plants and trees from repeated exposure to ground-level ozone.

If adopted, the new standard would require state and local authorities to ensure that ozone concentrations in a given area do not exceed the EPA limit, although a grace period would give the worst-affected cities a longer period of time to bring in measures to tackle smog.

The move raises the prospect of significantly tighter standards governing emissions of ozone and nitrogen oxide from industrial sites and could also require authorities to tackle vehicle emissions through new exhaust pipe standards or schemes to reduce congestion.

Environmental groups lined up to praise the draft proposals, predicting that they would usher in a new era of cleaner air for US cities.

"This rule will help ensure that all major sources of pollution get cleaned up," said Sierra Club director Carl Pope in a statement. "It will drive the need for cities and states to reduce the smog pollution spewing from vehicle tailpipes. Investing in transportation choices that enable Americans to travel safely and efficiently without using their cars will be part of the solution."

However, a number of business groups have already signalled that they will fight the proposals, arguing that any new air quality standards would impose unnecessary costs on industrial firms.

The American Petroleum Institute was first off the blocks, issuing a statement arguing that "there is absolutely no basis for the EPA to propose changing the ozone standards promulgated by the EPA administrator in 2008".