To: National Association of Counties, Legislative Issues
Nat'l Assoc of Counties: Do NOT oppose EPA standards on particulates
The upcoming National Association of Counties has a proposed resolution that reads:
"Proposed Resolution Opposing More Stringent Regulation of Particulate Matter
NOCo opposes any attempts by the U.S. EPA to impose regulation of Particulate Matter (PM or dust) at levels more stringent than current standards."
The EPA estimates tens of thousands of premature deaths from soot each year. Soot is particulate matter. This regulation would damage health. Support the EPA regulation of particulates.
"Proposed Resolution Opposing More Stringent Regulation of Particulate Matter
NOCo opposes any attempts by the U.S. EPA to impose regulation of Particulate Matter (PM or dust) at levels more stringent than current standards."
The EPA estimates tens of thousands of premature deaths from soot each year. Soot is particulate matter. This regulation would damage health. Support the EPA regulation of particulates.
Why is this important?
To summarize, there is no safe level of PM10 and PM2.5. That is, the less of these pollutants, the less death and disease. The more of these, the more death and disease. Thus, EPA sets the standard based on a policy judgement of how much death and disease it is willing to accept. If the National Association of Counties wants more death and disease, they should say so.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to include an adequate margin of safety in the standards. It is unseemly for the National Association of Counties to urge EPA to advocate for no safety margin and a standard that will produce more deaths.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to include an adequate margin of safety in the standards. It is unseemly for the National Association of Counties to urge EPA to advocate for no safety margin and a standard that will produce more deaths.