EPA press release on WTC cleaning hotline launch, June 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Lui^ Association Faults U.S.\X On Enforcing Clean Air Laws WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) by the American Trucking Associa­ — More than half of Americans tion, filed a lawsuit seeking to over­ breathe polluted air that can damage turn the Environmental Protection their health because the government Agency’s 1997 pollution standards, does not fully enforce clean air laws, contending that they were arbitrary the American Lung Association said and had no scientific basis. today. Last month, the United States Standards are in place to reduce Court of Appeals for the District of pollution, but because they are not Columbia Circuit rejected the coali­ being enforced, the association said, tion’s argument, saying that the en­ nearly 400 counties have smog levels vironmental agency “must err on above the legal limits. All are near , the side of caution” and set pollution cities. 'stand^ds at “whatever level it “It is clearly time to get serious deems necessary and sufficient to about enforcing all of the provisions protect the public health.” of the Clean Air Act so that we place Americans’ health above business The agency estimates that the pol­ and political interests,” said John lution standards will prevent 15,000 Kirkwood, president of the lung asso­ premature deaths, 350,000 cases of ciation. asthma and one million cases of de­ Industry was fighting to roll back creased lung function in children. important provisions of the act, Mr. The association’s report said the Kirkwood said, and ozone standards most polluted area was that of Los set in 1997 were not being enforced. Angeles, Riverside and Orange “More protective ozone standards Counties in California. Next came effectively have been on hold due to the area including the California cit­ challenges by industry, which have ies of Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia, kept states relying on weaker stand­ Tulare and Porterville. It was fol­ ards they have used since 1979,” he lowed by the Houston-Galveston- said. Brazoria region in Texas; Atlanta; Ozone has been linked to asthma Merced, Calif.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and other respiratory conditions. Charlotte, N.C., and neighboring A coalition of business groups, led Rockville, S.C.; and Sacramento.

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