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From the April 2008 issue
EPA Decisions on Standards for Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Draw Criticism from DEC
Two top DEC officials criticized recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decisions affecting progress on reducing greenhouse gases and protecting the public from the adverse affects of ozone. Commissioner Pete Grannis slammed EPA over its final decision blocking California, New York and about a dozen other states from regulating greenhouse gas emissions for new motor vehicles. Assistant Commissioner Jared Snyder strongly criticized EPA's new standard for acceptable levels of atmospheric ozone, which was not set as low as recommended by EPA's own science advisory committee.
New York wants stricter emission standards for new motor vehicles
Grannis on the Greenhouse Gases Decision
In his remarks on the greenhouse gases decision, Commissioner Grannis said, "EPA says California, New York and other states can't act because a national solution is needed. Yet EPA's version of a nationwide approach is to offer weak laws that don't act quickly enough. Immediate and aggressive action is warranted, and the nation's environmental agency is not only sitting on the sidelines, but denying states the ability to take necessary action." The new auto emission standards were set to go into effect during the 2009 model year and were projected to result in substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. New York joined other states in a lawsuit filed in January against EPA, challenging the agency's refusal to grant a waiver allowing states to introduce the new greenhouse-gas limiting regulations.
Snyder on the New Ozone Standard
EPA was advised by its own Clean Air Science Advisory Committee to set a new standard for ozone at between 0.060 and 0.070 ppm (parts per million) to save anywhere from $300 million to $1.4 billion in avoidable costs associated with health problems caused by ozone. Instead, it set the new standard at 0.075 ppm, which moves in the right direction but realizes only half of the projected benefits. This led to a storm of criticism from officials of the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), which was established by amendments made in 1990 to the Clean Air Act and includes officials from Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and New England states.
Speaking on behalf of both DEC and the OTC, of which he is Vice Chair, Assistant Commissioner Snyder said, "Once again, EPA is subordinating public health to political expediency. The public deserves better." See the Ozone Transport Commission website at "Related Links" below for the full text of their March 13, 2008 press release from which this information was excerpted.
Related Links:
Ozone Transport Commission Press Releases (leaving DEC's site)
