June 2017

This week, the EPA Administrator announced a one-year delay in implementing the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone.  The announcement means the Administration will delay by one year the EPA's designation of areas in the U.S. that fail to meet the ozone standard of 70 ppb/8-hours that was established in 2015.  Non-attainment areas will be announced by October 2018. The EPA announcement did not address if other compliance deadlines for the 2015 ozone rule will be affected.

In a letter to state governors informing them of the ozone rule delay, EPA Administrator Pruitt noted the federal government needs to be flexible with states, emphasized the cost and regulatory burdens associated with complying with ozone rule and hinted that further changes to the ozone rule might occur.  The letter to the governors did not discuss the health benefits expected from meeting the 2015 ozone standard.