Court Upholds Health-Based Ozone Standard, Remands Environmental Protection Standard

摘要

Afederal appeals court July 23 upheld the Environmental Protection Agency's health-based ozone standard set in 2008 during the George W. Bush administration, which environmental groups and several states had challenged as being too weak (Mississippi v. EPA, D.C. Cir., No. 08-1200, 7/23/13). But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit remanded to EPA a welfare-based ozone standard that is intended to protect the environment, saying the agency did not explain its decision. Advocacy groups said July 23 the practical effect of the court's decision would be minimal because EPA already is reviewing the ozone air quality standards, which the Clean Air Act requires every five years.