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Public health is protected under existing ozone standards, API says


Carlton Carroll | 202.682.8114 | carrollc@api.org


WASHINGTON, November 26, 2014 – New EPA regulations on ozone are not necessary to improve air quality, which will continue to improve as EPA implements the existing 2008 ozone standards and other regulations, but could be the costliest regulations ever, according to API President and CEO Jack Gerard.

“Air quality has improved dramatically over the past decades and will continue to improve as EPA and states implement existing standards, which are the most stringent ever,” Gerard said. “Careful review of the science shows that the current standards already protect public health. Tightening these standards could be the most expensive regulation ever imposed on the American public, with potentially enormous costs to the economy, jobs, and consumers.”

States have only just begun to implement the 2008 standards, according to API. EPA’s implementation guidance for the 2008 rule has not yet been released, and the challenges of meeting new standards would be massive and disruptive to states and businesses.

A new ozone regulation from the Obama administration could cost $270 billion per year and place millions of jobs at risk, according to a recent NERA report. An interactive map breaks down the costs by state.

“Tightened standards could impose unachievable emission reduction requirements on virtually every part of the nation,” Gerard said. “Even pristine areas with no industrial activity such as national parks could be out of attainment. Needless to say, operating under such stringent requirements could stifle new investments necessary to create jobs and grow our economy. The right policy choice is to implement the current standards and allow air quality to continue to improve.”

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 600 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 27 million Americans.
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