Study says EPA's proposal to reduce ozone standard would stifle economic recovery
A new study by the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI concludes that the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed ozone standards would cost American jobs. According to the study, 7.3 million jobs will be lost by 2020 if the EPA moves forward with a 60 parts per billion (ppb) primary standard. The study also concludes that the proposed standard would add $1 trillion in new regulatory costs per year between 2020 and 2030.
“The report released today is further evidence that EPA’s proposal to reduce the ozone standards is bad policy,” said Kyle Isakower of the American Petroleum Institute (API). “The proposed ozone rule is an example of EPA overregulation that will cost jobs without evidence of a commensurate health benefit at a time when too many Americans are already out of work.”
The EPA has acknowledged the newer studies on ozone “do not materially change any of the broad scientific conclusions regarding the health effects of exposure” that were arrived at during the previous review of the standard.
“Based on the EPA’s own assessment, there is no basis for EPA to propose changing the ozone standards. There has been significant and continuing progress in cleaning the nation’s air. Furthermore, ozone levels at rural monitors in pristine areas such as national parks exceed the proposed standards, implying that the nation will be unable to meet the more stringent standards, even with the most costly investments in emission controls,” Mr. Isakower said.
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