A group of business associations, including the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, recently filed a petition for review to challenge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule that significantly lowered the primary ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) standard from 75 ppb to 70 ppb.
In January, AFS joined the business groups in an intervention motion to help block the ozone standard from being revised even further. Several environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are challenging EPA’s decision not to lower the standard even further. The motion to intervene was filed on January 22. The challenge will focus on various issues relating to whether the standard is too stringent and whether EPA’s process was proper, and our intervention will oppose the NGO efforts.
AFS remains very concerned that EPA’s new ozone rule will hinder foundry expansion plans in many areas of the country. Many communities have yet to meet EPA's 2008 ozone standard. Furthermore, a number of regions with growing populations and high levels of background ozone simply have no means of complying. Here is a link to review the initial industry petition which was filed on Dec. 23 - - U.S. Chamber of Commerce, et al. petition for review.