{"id":80777,"date":"2017-05-14T11:24:23","date_gmt":"2017-05-14T15:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=80777"},"modified":"2017-05-14T01:26:20","modified_gmt":"2017-05-14T05:26:20","slug":"schneiderman-leads-coalition-of-16-attorneys-general-opposing-rollback-of-air-quality-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=80777","title":{"rendered":"Schneiderman leads coalition of 16 attorneys general opposing rollback of air quality standards"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>Attorneys General Urge Congress To Block Legislation That Would Delay Ozone Standards And Undermine The Clean Air Act \u2013 Marking A Major Step Backwards In Combatting Pollution And Its Public Health Impacts<\/em><\/p>\n

Ozone Standards Would Prevent Up To 660 Premature Deaths; 230,000 Asthma Attacks In Children; And More<\/em><\/p>\n

Today, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman led a coalition of 16 Attorneys General in urging Congress to reject the rollback of critical protective ozone air quality standards.<\/p>\n

In letters to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Attorneys General detailed their opposition to S. 263 \/ H.R. 806, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017, which would substantially delay the ozone standards promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2015 \u2013 marking a major step backwards in efforts to combat pollution and its negative impact on public health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe EPA\u2019s ozone standards aren\u2019t just vital to protecting our environment \u2013 they will literally save lives,\u201d said Attorney General Schneiderman. \u201cToo often, states like New York see our efforts to combat ozone pollution undercut by upwind states. I\u2019m proud to partner with my fellow Attorneys General in urging Congress to reject the rollback of these critical standards. The health of our children, seniors, and people across the country depends on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click here to read the letters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

People exposed to elevated levels of ozone suffer from lung tissue damage, as well as aggravation of asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, and emphysema; children and seniors are particularly susceptible to ozone\u2019s harmful health effects. The 2015 ozone rule is expected to result in vital public health benefits. In fact, the EPA conservatively estimated that meeting the new standards would result in net annual public health benefits of up to $4.5 billion starting in 2025 (not including California), while also preventing approximately:<\/p>\n