Repeated Delay Means Millions of Americans Must Breathe Dangerous Levels of Deadly Pollutant With No Relief In Sight

(December 8, 2010)—

Statement of Charles D. Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Lung Association.

The American Lung Association is gravely disappointed over the decision announced today that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to delay for the third time its final decision on the ozone national air quality standards, postponing the decision from December 31, 2010 to July 29, 2011. EPA’s delay leaves in peril the lives and the health of millions of Americans. As a result, the Lung Association is exploring legal options to require the EPA to issue a final standard.

Putting off stronger standards means that lives will be lost. Based on EPA’s own estimates, a six–month delay means that an estimated 2,000 to 6,000 people will lose their lives because they must breathe air pollution that would have been cleaned up if the EPA had met its most recent deadline of December 31, 2010.

Instead of acting, the EPA intends to call a special meeting of the independent review panel of scientists that provide EPA guidance on air pollution standards. The EPA’s decision to reconvene the 22 scientists, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, is an unnecessary delay. These same scientists had unanimously supported the range in their first review that ended in 2006. The EPA went back to the Committee last year and they again unanimously recommended the same range: 60 to 70 parts per billion. Now, EPA returns and asks them to reconsider the same evidence again for the third time.

If EPA seeks more guidance, they should consider that its Committee of scientific advisors was not the only group of experts recommending a much stronger standard. In the 2006 review, the American Lung Association and 15 other medical societies and public health organizations asked EPA to adopt the most protective level under consideration: 60 ppb. Supporters of the tighter standard included the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Thoracic Society, and the American Public Health Association.

Ozone air pollution causes premature death, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing. Ozone can send people with lung disease like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the emergency room and the hospital. Delays in setting the standard causes delays in putting clean up measures in place that can reduce ozone and protect the health of millions of people.

The EPA is required by the Clean Air Act to establish a national air quality standard that defines the limit on the amount of ozone pollution that can be in the air across the U.S. The public has a right to know when the level of air pollution in their community can harm health. The ozone standard drives the nationwide cleanup of this widespread and deadly pollutant. The federal government, states and communities must take steps to cut ozone. Delays to setting a standard mean delays to steps that can reduce the levels of ozone, and reduce premature deaths.

Polluters and their supporters have placed intense pressure on the EPA, to get the EPA to weaken the standard or to ignore the legally firm requirements of the Clean Air Act. We urge the EPA to recognize that the polluters’ tired arguments about killing jobs are no truer now than they were decades ago. EPA’s duty to protect public health is core to their mission and the Clean Air Act. We urge EPA to adopt the strongest, most protective standard under consideration: 60 parts per billion.

About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity and holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.LungUSA.org.