Good News for Manufacturers: U.S. EPA Declines to Tighten Ozone Standards

Ohio manufacturers should note that the U.S. EPA last week did not propose stricter ozone standards despite pressure from environmental groups. The EPA’s new proposal retains the 70-part-per-billion (ppb) standard for ozone, commonly referred to as smog, set under the Obama administration. Even under the current standard, the Cincinnati and Cleveland areas are both at high risk of being elevated to “moderate non-attainment” status, which would mean tighter controls on emitting industries.

“At a time when we are facing record-breaking unemployment, a lower ozone standard could slow our economic rebound and threaten manufacturing competitiveness,” the National Association of Manufacturers wrote in a statement of support for the EPA’s proposal. 7/20/2020