EPA Hands Phoenix an Ozone Pollution Waiver
Residents in the Phoenix area will continue to be exposed to dangerous ozone air pollution with this free pass
Contacts
Tylar Greene, tgreene@earthjustice.org
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently waived stronger anti-pollution measures for metro Phoenix even though it’s one of the nation’s smoggiest cities. The waiver means Phoenix residents will be forced to continue breathing dangerously polluted air. The EPA blames the city’s clean air violations on emissions from outside the U.S., including Asia, but most of the problem comes from local sources.
The following is a statement from Earthjustice Senior Attorney David Baron:
“Ozone violations in Phoenix are dangerous to kids, the elderly, and people with asthma. But instead of requiring stronger anti-pollution measures, EPA is trying to blame countries thousands miles away. We say that’s illegal and just plain wrong.”
The American Lung Association gave Phoenix an ‘F’ for air quality in its most recent State of the Air report, ranking it as the fourth most polluted city in the nation.
Smog (ground-level ozone) is a result of emissions from industrial sources such as power plants, refineries, and factories, as well as from motor vehicles, combining with sunlight in the atmosphere. Smog air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart and lung diseases — particularly in children, older adults. Read more about smog pollution in the U.S.
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