WASHINGTON — The tighter ozone standard announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will lead to higher costs throughout the economy with little or no health benefit for Americans, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said.
"The costs are too high and the benefits too unclear to impose this new burden on America's manufacturers and employees," said NAM President John Engler. "Considering America's current domestic economic challenges, this is the wrong move at the wrong time," Engler said.
Engler adds that air quality is improving across the country as manufacturers and states have been working to meet the existing ozone standard. Changing the standard would only hurt manufacturing employment and lead to higher gasoline prices. He points to EPA date showing a 21 percent decline in ozone levels since 1980.
"Stricter environmental controls for companies in non-attainment areas will require billions of dollars in compliance costs," he added. "U.S. manufacturers already pay more than $77 billion each year for environmental regulations. The new ozone rule will add significantly to this cost burden."
