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How’s EPA Doing on Air Pollution Science?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Recently, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report that will likely have major effects on how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects people from dangerous air pollutants. At issue is the EPA’s process of compiling what the agency calls an “integrated science assessment.”

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Will EPA Follow the Science and Protect Us from Ozone Pollution?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) released a draft set of recommendations calling on the EPA to tighten its current standard for ground-level ozone pollution to protect public health. But will the EPA follow CASAC’s recommendations?

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Evolving Air Quality Standards

Legal Planet

The goal of the Clean Air Act is to achieve national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), with the primary requirement being protection of public health. As our understanding of the health effects of air pollution has improved, there has been a general trend toward tightening the standards. ppm in 2015.

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Clean Air Act turns 50

Environment, Law, and History

But the Clean Air Act has nonetheless had a major impact. Here’s what EPA has to say on the subject — and remember, this is from the Trump EPA, which is no fan of regulation: Experience with the Clean Air Act since 1970 has shown that protecting public health and building the economy can go hand in hand.

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Pollution Control as Climate Policy

Legal Planet

The Biden Administration is slowly grinding away at an important regulatory task: reconsidering the air quality standards for particulates and ozone. Quick legal background: The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set national ambient air quality standards or NAAQS (pronounced “knacks”). is over 600 pages long.

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EPA Announces $1.35 Million Penalty, Settlement With Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Over Clean Air Act Violations

PA Environment Daily

and numerous affiliated companies (collectively, GWRSI) for violation of Clean Air Act (CAA) locomotive regulations. NOx is a contributor to the formation of summer ozone, and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns has been shown to cause lung damage and cancer.

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Air Quality as Environmental Justice

Legal Planet

The NAAQS (pronounced “knacks”) are supposed to be the maximum amount of air pollution consistent with protection of public health and welfare. Air pollution is the biggest threat to poor communities and communities of color.