Standards on Smog Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, Published: December 16, 2010
Re “_E.P.A. Delays Tougher Rules on Emissions_ (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/science/earth/10epa.html?scp=1&sq=emis...) ” (front page, Dec. 10): It’s not surprising that the coal and oil industries are seeking to block clean air progress, but that is no excuse for the Obama administration’s delay of new lifesaving smog standards. By the Environmental Protection Agency’s own estimate, putting off this decision for another half year means that between 2,000 and 6,000 Americans will die because of air pollution. Further, even the most stringent ozone standard that the E.P.A. is considering would still have a net economic benefit of billions of dollars, as the savings in health care costs would outweigh the costs of pollution controls. It’s past time for the E.P.A. and the Obama administration to do the job that the Clean Air Act demands. This is a critical juncture for the Obama administration to decide whether to betray the promise the president was elected on and reach what amounts to a fatal compromise for thousands of Americans — or to move forward as promised with the much-needed standards that will both save lives and move us toward clean energy prosperity. Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club, San Francisco, December 10, 2010
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Submitted by: Duane Nichols, 330 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508