Tighten smog rules? Industry fights proposal

Johnson met shortly before Christmas with an array of representatives from environmental and health groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association.

At that meeting, they echoed the views of 111 health scientists who last year told the EPA the ozone health standards needed to be lowered to between 60 and 70 parts per billion.

Industry groups argue that the science is inconclusive and that the need for a tighter standard has not been shown, especially since 104 counties have yet to meet the current requirements. If the standard is lowered to 75 parts per billion, the number of counties in violation grows to nearly 400, and at 70 parts per billion to 533, according to EPA.

That means states would be forced to clamp new emission controls on businesses, and motor vehicles to clean up the air.

"It could trigger layoffs nationwide, further eroding U.S. economic competitiveness," Sen. George Voinovich of economically stressed Ohio, and six other Republican senators recently wrote the EPA.

More than a dozen senators have weighed in against any change, while 22 House members told the EPA it should abide by “overwhelming scientific evidence in favor of stronger smog standards.”

Cost: $9.8 billion or more annually
The EPA has put the annual cost of meeting a 75 parts per billion standard at $9.8 billion. A 70 parts per billion ozone standard would cost $22 billion annually. But EPA notes that the costs of either could easily be offset or exceeded by reduced health care costs.

Manufacturing groups from Virginia and Wisconsin have asked their senators to intervene. National lobbying powerhouses such as the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Chemistry Council and Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers have met with administration officials and lobbied Congress to keep the smog standard unchanged.

"Urge them to retain the current standard," Harry Berry, the county executive/judge in Hardin County, Ky., wrote to his senator, Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Berry warned tougher smog health requirements would be "another blow to the bottom line" for businesses in his area.

William Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies representing the state and county officials who would have to enforce new air quality requirements, said his group isn't opposed to a tougher standard.

"It's going to make our job that much more daunting," Becker said, "but what trumps that ... is public health."

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