Tougher proposed air quality standards for ozone could be met, in part, by greater use of natural gas for power generation and transportation, according to comments filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Washington-based non-profit organization American Clean Skies Foundation (ACSF).

   As compared to coal and gasoline, the combustion of natural gas releases a small fraction of the nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that can lead to ozone pollution.

   In its comments, ACSF said it supports EPA’s choice of stricter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone that are “science-based and adequately protect public health and the environment.” The non-profit organization also urged accelerated adoption and implementation of new ozone standards so as to achieve the important public health and welfare benefits contemplated under a new rule.

  But ACSF cautioned EPA not to set ozone limits at levels that “are so stringent that the production and use of natural gas are unduly impacted because increased natural gas use is a key part of any solution for reducing overall ground-level ozone.”

   ACSF provided specific recommendations that include the need to aggressively develop markets for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) within strategic transportation sectors including commercial and private fleets, school buses, delivery trucks and taxi cabs. ACSF also advises that EPA and states, through their state implementation plans (SIPs), should pursue regulatory approaches that maximize the use of clean-burning natural gas. Additionally, ACSF suggests that EPA work with individual states to reduce any regulatory or infrastructure barriers to greater use of natural gas in the electricity sector.