  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 12, 2011
Contact: Maggie Kao, 202-675-2384
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.”
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For
more information visit www.sierraclub.org/asthma
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