The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new regulations that would reduce the amount of ground level ozone by 10%-20%. Officials say it would save lives and billions of dollars on health care costs. But critics say the financial costs will be astronomical without the health benefits that are being touted.
The current allowable concentration of ozone over an 8 hour period is 75 parts per billion. That number was set by the Bush Administration which lowered the allowable level from 85 parts per billion. The E.P.A. under president Obama wants to see the level capped at between 60 ppb and 70 ppb. If adopted most metropolitan areas of the country would be out of compliance and be required to come up with plans to meet the stricter requirements.
The American Lung Association has been pushing for the tougher standards citing the growing number of asthma cases in the U.S. Currently, one out of every ten kids suffers from asthma. But critics point out that the asthma rates have been going up even as ozone levels have been coming down. Ground level ozone is 25-percent less than in 1980 thanks in part to tougher regulations and improved technology aimed at reducing smog emitted from cars.
The E.P.A. itself doesn’t have a very firm grasp on the costs or the benefits of its proposal. The agency figures the price tag at somewhere between $19-billion and $90-billion, while projecting improved health could save $13-billion or possibly $100-billion and as many as 5,700 lives– unless it only saves 1,700.
If the regulations are passed several regional planners told Fox News the first thing they would consider is reformulating gasoline. California did it and was successful in reducing smog, but it did increase the cost of gas 15-cents a gallon and still several parts of the state can’t meet current standards during the summer.
Leaders would also look to enforce tighter emission standards on big manufacturing businesses and utilities which would likely result in higher prices for goods and electricity. And if all else fails to bring a region into attainment, some say the only answer is to get people out of their cars. Vehicle exhaust is by far the largest contributor of ozone. Transportation officials in the Seattle area have been working on a number of stategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Among the ideas being considered, impose highway tolls and tax people for the miles they drive-not by the fuel they consume.
The E.P.A. opened a public comment period on the proposal this week. Under the Clean Air Act it can change the regulations in 60 days. The agency has already signaled that it would want to fast track implementation.