EPA says current levels of soot emissions are taking a deadly toll
in 2020 and embraced industry groups’ argument that the existing regulations were good enough. At the time, EPA scientists, health experts and environmental advocates urged the opposite, saying the agency needed to tighten the standards to protect public health.
“There’s no predetermined outcome here,” Regan said, saying that agency officials wanted to put out a proposal while soliciting input from outside experts, some of whom have pushed for tougher limits than the agency is proposing. The EPA expects to settle on a new standard this summer. Whatever the outcome, Regan said the net result would advance public health.
At issue are fine particles measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, or one-thirtieth the width of a human hair. Released into the air from power plants, diesel trucks and factories, they are so tiny that they can enter the lungs and bloodstream, triggering asthma, heart attacks and strokes, and are among the most lethal of air pollutants.Polluting industries have argued against tougher restrictions and are likely to challenge the new standard.
For their part, some advocates for tougher pollution rules were frustrated by the administration’s proposal.
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