President Obama Withdraws Ozone NAAQS

President Obama has withdrawn EPA's proposal to lower  the National Ambient Air Quality Standard(NAAQS) proposed for ground level ozone (smog).  By way of summary, Politico reports:

 The rest of the Politico report explains the political pressures that led to the president's decision to forego a significant reduction of the standard in an attempt to preserve jobs, and some potential ramifications. 

In January 2010, the EPA proposed to set the national health-based standard for ozone between 60 and 70 parts per billion when averaged over an eight-hour period. The Bush administration tightened the ozone limits from 84 ppb to 75 ppb in 2008, despite scientific advisers' recommendations to issue a standard between 60 ppb and 70 ppb.

You can find more about the ozone standard here. The history of EPA's attempt to decrease the standard can be found here. The West Virginia nonattainment designations under the  2008 75 ppb standard (Charleston, Huntington/Ashland, Parkersburg/Marietta, Steubenville/Weirton and Wheeling) are here, and the designations under the 1997 standard are here.

The Presiden'ts statement:

Over the last two and half years, my administration, under the leadership of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, has taken some of the strongest actions since the enactment of the Clean Air Act four decades ago to protect our environment and the health of our families from air pollution. From reducing mercury and other toxic air pollution from outdated power plants to doubling the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks, the historic steps we’ve taken will save tens of thousands of lives each year, remove over a billion tons of pollution from our air, and produce hundreds of billions of dollars in benefits for the American people.

 
At the same time, I have continued to underscore the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty, particularly as our economy continues to recover.  With that in mind, and after careful consideration, I have requested that Administrator Jackson withdraw the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards at this time. Work is already underway to update a 2006 review of the science that will result in the reconsideration of the ozone standard in 2013.  Ultimately, I did not support asking state and local governments to begin implementing a new standard that will soon be reconsidered.

 
I want to be clear: my commitment and the commitment of my administration to protecting public health and the environment is unwavering. I will continue to stand with the hardworking men and women at the EPA as they strive every day to hold polluters accountable and protect our families from harmful pollution.  And my administration will continue to vigorously oppose efforts to weaken EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act or dismantle the progress we have made.