Environmental Protection Agency’s Smog Protections Delayed Again

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed a federal appeals court motion stating that the agency plans to finalize its update of the smog or ozone pollution standard “shortly."

In response, Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, issued the following statement:

"The Sierra Club is troubled by the EPA’s motion today to delay a much needed and long overdue update of smog standards.  Smog – or ozone pollution – is an acidic air pollutant that when inhaled is like getting a ‘sunburn on your lungs.’

“Each year, smog affects millions of Americans, hitting young children, people with asthma and the elderly the hardest, and contributes to orange and red-alert air quality days that make it dangerous for people to be outdoors.

“Once updated and implemented, protections against smog will save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of asthma attacks.  The longer the delay, the greater the risk for the millions of Americans who suffer from respiratory illnesses – we urge the Obama Administration to move swiftly on this critical protection to save lives and clean up our air.”