WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President Charles T. Drevna commented on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to lower the current ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) to a range of 65-70 parts per billion.
"The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ozone proposal is just the latest in the Obama Administration's arsenal of restrictive rules that will undermine the U.S. economy in the President's pursuit of his desired green legacy. This regulation promises to be the most expensive in U.S. history, while providing little benefit to the environment and consumers. Studies have shown that, if enacted, the standard could lead to millions of jobs lost and could cost U.S. business hundreds of billions of dollars every year, yet this Administration doesn't seem to care.
"The United States has reduced ozone levels by 30 percent since 1980. That trend will continue without lowering the current standard as counties and states across the nation continue to implement the current standard. At today's standard, 40 percent of the U.S. population lives in areas of non-attainment, lowering the standard will increase this number and put millions more jobs in jeopardy. In addition, today's ozone proposal is almost comical given the Administration's extensive public focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, because any process to achieve such stringent ozone requirements will require more energy and increase greenhouse emissions, in direct conflict with other EPA regulations."