Lung Association Applauds EPA’s Interim Final Rule that Rescinds Rule that Ignored Clean Air Benefits, Endangered Public Health

In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) interim final rule to rescind the “Increasing Consistency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process Rule,” American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“Today’s step to rescind this dangerous rule demonstrates EPA’s commitment to following sound science and prioritizing public health. The original rule, which would have deliberately discounted the health benefits of air pollution standards, would have artificially reduced the ‘value’ of air pollution cleanup, thereby undermining future limits on air pollution. We are very heartened to see this Administration recognize the real value of cleaning up dangerous pollutants that harm health.

“Clean Air Act standards are efficient and cost-effective, in part because cleaning up one pollutant often leads to measures that reduce other pollutants as well. This is good news because steps the nation takes to clean up toxic air pollutants, including mercury and acid gases, have saved thousands of lives thanks to reductions of particle pollution in our air at the same time.

“Lives saved from reducing a certain pollutant as a result of steps taken to clean up another pollutant aren’t any less real or valuable. We thank EPA for taking this step to rescind this harmful rule. We look forward to working with the Administration to further strengthen its analysis of air pollution standards, in keeping with President Biden’s early commitments to better account for equity and health as new rules are considered.”