American Lung Association Challenges EPA on Final Action to Maintain Inadequate Particulate Matter Pollution Limits

Today the American Lung Association, represented by attorneys from Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final action to maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter pollution. Regarding this legal action, President and CEO of the American Lung Association Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:  

“EPA’s final action to maintain the inadequate limits on particulate matter pollution fails to meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements that the NAAQS protect public health with an adequate margin of safety. The agency’s review of the standards was rushed and inadequate and key scientific experts were cut out of the process. EPA’s conclusion is at odds with the current science, which clearly shows that particle pollution makes people sick and causes premature death at levels the Trump administration says are safe.

“As shown in our 2020 ‘State of the Air’ report, the burden of air pollution is not evenly shared. Poorer people and many communities of color are among those who often face higher exposure to pollutants and who may experience greater adverse responses to such pollution.

“In this final action to preserve the too-weak particulate matter standards, EPA failed to perform its duty under the Clean Air Act to follow the latest science and set pollution limits that protect the health of all Americans. EPA’s decision will result in preventable harm to health and preventable lives lost. The American Lung Association is committed to securing stronger standards that will save lives, as the Clean Air Act requires.”