"EPA Proposes Tougher Smog Limit, Saying Health Depends on It"

"The scientific case has been building for how a smoggy summer afternoon in North Texas might harm a child playing outdoors, a person with asthma or, on the worst days, perhaps even a healthy adult.

The evidence says that in Dallas-Fort Worth, as in much of the country, pollution cuts have lowered ozone levels — but not enough to let millions of people breathe what medical experts now consider clean, healthy air.

Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, took a step Wednesday to close the clean-air achievement gap when she proposed a tighter national standard, or target level, for ozone.

McCarthy agreed with scientific advisers who have declared, as far back as the George W. Bush administration in 2008, that the current ozone standard of 75 parts per billion does not protect public health with an adequate margin of safety — the legal requirement under the Clean Air Act."

Randy Lee Loftis reports for the Dallas Morning News November 26, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"US Tightens Smog Limits in Bid To Protect Health" (AP)

"Obama Unveils New Limits on Ozone Pollution in Victory for Health Groups" (Guardian)

"EPA Proposes Stricter Limits on Ozone, Cites Health Savings" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

"Sen. Mary Landrieu and Rep. Bill Cassidy Denounce Proposed EPA Ozone Rules" (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

"‘Emboldened’ Obama Faces Promising Odds on Ozone" (Politico)

"EPA Critics Forecast Doom, Prepare for War Over Smog Plan" (Greenwire)

"EPA Proposes Lower Ozone Standard To Curtail Asthma, Other Ailments" (McClatchy)

"Lower Ozone Standard Would Raise The Compliance Bar For Business" (NPR)

"EPA's Proposed Rules Add To Obama's Collision Course With GOP" (NPR)

"EPA's Proposed Ozone Limit Faces Political, Cost Hurdles" (Los Angeles Times)