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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Industry Gives Advanced Word on Ozone Standard

EPA is under court order to publish by today a proposed rule on its periodic review of the national air quality standard for ozone. The rule just went through a White House regulatory review process characterized by closed-door meetings which let in industry reps. Public health experts were heard from in a last-minute meeting held Monday.

One of industry's loudest voices in Washington — the National Association of Manufacturers — has apparently received advanced word of the standard. (OMB Watch often complains of a lack of transparency in the rulemaking process. It's nice to see industry lobbyists getting a peek.) According to the NAM blog, the proposed rule will recommend a range between 0.070 and 0.075 parts per million.

NAM complains this range is too stringent and that the status quo should be included for debate in the notice-and-comment period. That's a bunch of hooey. There is scientific consensus that the limit for ozone exposure should be set between 0.060 and 0.070 ppm.

Reg•Watch will post again when the proposed rule is announced. If NAM's connections in the Bush administration are legit (and they surely are), prepare to be disappointed.