Senate panel clashes over EPA ozone, particle standards

Washington (Platts)--10Nov2005

Members of a Senate panel Thursday clashed over the best way to implement
the US Environmental Protection Agency's standards for ground-level ozone and
particulate matter, both of which have ramifications for electricity
generators. 

     Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee on
clean air, climate change and nuclear safety spoke critically of the
standards, fearing they will retard economic growth. 

     The panel's chairman, Sen George Voinovich (Republican-Ohio) called the
standards an "unfunded mandate on our state and local governments," and said
meeting them could have a "major impact on families and businesses." Sen Jim
DeMint (Republican-South Carolina) went further, saying EPA was "just hurting
people" and "holding us back" with the standards. 

     Democrats took a different tack, arguing that the standards will benefit
the nation economically in the long run due to the pollution-related deaths
and illnesses they will stave off. 

     "The cost of protecting public health is far less than the cost of
breathing dirty air," said Sen Thomas Carper (Democrat-Delaware). 

     States must submit their plans to comply with EPA's ozone standard by
next June. Ozone, a key component of smog, is formed in part by nitrogen oxide
emissions from power plants. States must submit plans to meet EPA's
particulate matter standard by April 2008. 

     Particle pollution is comprised of hundreds of different chemical
compounds, including NOX and sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants. 

     Bill Wehrum, EPA's acting assistant administrator for air and radiation,
testified that standards will save lives and prevent illnesses. But he
acknowledged that "some states have expressed concern" about meeting them on
time. Wehrum said EPA would consider extending the deadlines "under certain
circumstances."

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