March 13

U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson on March 12 signed into law a new, more stringent ozone standard for the first time in more than a decade.

Johnson described the new eight hour ozone standard as the most stringent in U.S. history. However, it fell short of recommendations from a scientific committee that advises the EPA.

The change imposes a new eight hour limit on ozone of 75 parts per billion, as compared with the existing limit of 80 parts per billion. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee had recommended a limit of between 60 and 70 parts per billion.

Republicans and Democrats as well as environmentalists and business interests were all quick to criticize the new standard.

Democrats and environmentalists accused the administrator of bowing to business interests and setting a standard that endangered human health.

Republicans and business groups accused the administrator of adopting a needlessly stringent standard that would do little to protect the public health but would endanger the economy and jobs.

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