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Wednesday, November 07, 2007

EPA Official Sets the Record Straight

EPA Deputy Administrator has put up an interesting post on his blog "Flow of the River." EPA is in the middle of a rulemaking which would tighten the air quality standard for ozone, a.k.a. smog. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set the standard based on public health considerations. Peacock writes,

I have something to say today for the sake of those many states, cities, counties and other local entities that have been commenting on EPA's proposal to tighten the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone:

THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATOR TO CONSIDER COSTS WHEN HE REVIEWS A NAAQS.

And the emphasis is his!

Opponents of a tighter ozone standard (including industry lobbyists and the White House) consistently complain the regulation may have an adverse economic impact. But EPA is legally prohibited from considering economic costs, or benefits for that matter, in setting the standard. As Peacock writes, "when commenting on a NAAQS proposal if you feel the urge to raise the cost of compliance, save your breath."

Kudos to Peacock for using his public forum to set the record straight.