The industrial trade association said plans by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to tighten standards for emissions of fine particulate matter could impose significant burdens on U.S. manufacturers already facing stiff overseas competition.

"The EPA´s proposal is bad policy and bad for business," said NAM President John Engler, a former governor of Michigan. "The proposal is not grounded in sound science, and because the curent standard has not even been implemented, changing the standard now would move the goalposts during the middle of the game, creating investment and business uncertainty. This is not the time to impose new burdens on U.S. manufacturers facing unprecedented competition from abroad."

NAM plans on filing formal comments with the EPA objecting to the agency´s proposal. Engler´s announcement corresponded with the EPA´s publication of its proposal in the Federal Register on Jan. 17.

The EPA in late December first announced its plans for tightening the air quality standard for fine particle pollution, such as that emitted by coal-burning power plants. The agency proposed reducing the 24-hour fine-particle standard from the current level of 65 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms. Environmental regulators track fine-particle pollution at monitoring stations throughout the country.

NAM maintains the change isn´t necessary because the Bush administration already has issued a number of rules that should reduce particulate matter emissions, including the Clean Air Interstate Rule and the Clean Diesel Program.

Although the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to periodically review air quality standards, it does not say that such reviews must result in the revision of existing standards, Engler said.

However, environmental groups and the American Lung Association already have criticized the EPA´s proposal for not doing enough to reduce particle pollution and the associated health risks.

Fine particle pollution has been linked to asthma, heart problems and early death.

Details about the EPA´s proposal are available online at www.epa.gov/air/particles/actions.html.