PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
September 2, 2011

New Ozone Standard Delay Announced on Air Quality Alert Day

Political pressure trumps public health

Columbus, OH - The Ohio Environmental Council is deeply disappointed in the Obama Administration's decision to delay the announcement of the revised 8-hour ozone standard until 2013.

"We are greatly disappointed that the public's health does not appear to be paramount with the Administration, especially announcing this today when we have an air quality alert in central, northeast, northwest, and southwest Ohio," states David R. Celebrezze, Director of Air & Water Special Projects at the Ohio Environmental Council.

"It seems the Administration is shirking its duties and has put the public's health at risk by delaying, yet again, the new 8-hour ozone standard."

A delayed rule means more time for current polluters to continue as business as usual. "A delayed rule means more asthma attacks, more heart attacks, more painful breathing, and more preventable deaths," states Celebrezze.

"Moving forward we hope that the Kasich Administration and local governments will take public health seriously and adopt strong protections. A healthy community is a productive community," states Celebrezze.

Ground level ozone is generated by emissions from cars, diesel engines, and factories that are cooked by the sun.

According to medical scientists, ground-level ozone has serious health and environmental impacts including:

• Airway irritation, coughing, and pain when taking a deep breath;
• Wheezing and breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities;
• Inflammation;
• Aggravation of asthma;
• Permanent lung damage; and
• Reduction of forest growth and crop yields.

Those most sensitive to ground level ozone pollution include:

• Children
• The elderly
• People with respiratory ailments (such as asthma)
• Construction workers, rail operators, truck drivers and other occupation workers where people are exposed to diesel and ground-level ozone pollution.

According to the Clean Air Task Force, diesel soot has grave health impacts for Ohioans:

• 409 Premature Deaths
• 392 Non-Fatal Heart Attacks
• 48,969 Work Loss Days
• 288,641 Minor Restricted Activity Days

The State of Ohio, as well as local communities, has many tools they can employ in order to meet the current clean air standards and to protect the public's health.

Reducing diesel emissions can play a key role. According to the Clean Air Task Force, diesel pollution alone costs Ohio $3.6 billion annually in health impacts.

In order to meet the current standard local and state governments can also:

Local governments:

• Adopt an internal no-idling policy for its vehicle fleets and at its facilities, such as rest-stops, state parks, etc.;
• Retrofit all existing vehicles with pollution controls to achieve 85% or best achievable emissions reduction;
• Require equipment and vehicles used on public construction projects and drilling on public land projects to install modern pollution controls;
• Adopt a city-wide fuel conservation ordinance which limits the amount of time any vehicle can idle in a 60 minute time period;
• Invest in clean energy infrastructure; and
• Adopt clean construction standards that require filters on diesel construction equipment.
• Adopt a no-idling law in areas where vulnerable populations congregate, such as schools, hospitals, daycare facilities, etc.;
• Support truck stop electrification;
• Support heavy duty diesel truck emissions testing;
• All fuel stations to have vapor recovery systems;
• Regulate outdoor wood fired boilers;
• Develop a no-interest loan program to help private and public fleets retrofit, replace, repower, and refuel with diesel cleanup technology; and
• Fund the Ohio Diesel Emission Reduction Grant program at $50 million a year. Additionally, to help states and local communities meet the new standards, the Federal government should:
• Require construction projects using federal funds to install modern pollution controls;
• Require greatest emission reductions technically feasible from coal-fired power plants.
• Fund the Diesel Emission Reduction Act to $1 billion a year.

"Industry does not have a right to pollute," comments Celebrezze. "Clean air solutions protect our health, environment, and make us economically competitive. It is a shame that the Administration let political pressure put the public's health at greater risk."

For real-time air quality data, visit www.airnow.gov.

Currently the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain area is fifth highest in the nation for the Air Quality Index; tomorrow the area is second in the nation.

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The mission of the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home. The OEC is Ohio's leading advocate for fresh air, clean water, and sustainable land use. The OEC has a 40-year history of innovation, pragmatism, and success. Using legislative initiatives, legal action, scientific principles, and statewide partnerships, the OEC secures a healthier environment for Ohio's families and communities. For more information, visit www.theOEC.org.