NEWS RELEASE 

Environmental Protection Agency Leaves Colorado Gasping
89,000 Children with Asthma, Governor Ritter, and Many More at Risk as EPA Proposes to Keep Smog at Dangerous Levels

For Immediate Release:
June 21, 2007

For More Information Contact:
Jeremy Nichols, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, 303-454-3370

Denver—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today turned its back on its own health advisers and all 89,000 children with asthma in Colorado proposing to keep ozone pollution, the main ingredient of smog, at dangerously unhealthy levels. The proposal also leaves Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, who suffers from asthma, at increased risk of asthma attacks.

The EPA proposed to keep ozone levels in Colorado above 70 parts per billion, almost 20% higher than what scientists and doctors have recommended.

"The EPA is not just turning its back on science, it's turning its back on 89,000 kids gasping for air," said Jeremy Nichols, Director of Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action. "We need to be safe from smog; sadly there's nothing safe about the EPA's proposal."

Ozone forms when sunlight reacts with air pollution from smokestacks, tailpipes, and oil and gas wells. Children, those with asthma, seniors, and active adults are most at risk from ozone. When breathed in, ozone harms the lungs much like sunburn harms your skin. Health effects include:

• Coughing and throat irritation;
• Reduced lung function;
• Increased incidence of asthma and asthma attacks;
• Aggravation of other illnesses like bronchitis and emphysema;
• Permanent lung damage, especially when children are exposed; and even
• Premature death.

In Colorado, around 7.1% of the entire population suffers from asthma, the second highest prevalence of any state in the nation. They include 89,000 children and Governor Bill Ritter. Every year, asthma costs people Colorado over $300,000,000.

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set air quality standards for ozone that fully protect our health. The current standard was adopted in 1997 and limits ozone to no more than 80 parts per billion over an eight hour period (although due to an outdated rounding scheme, ozone is allowed to rise to 85 parts per billion under the standard).

Scientists have found this standard falls short of protecting our health. In an October 2006 letter, the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee concluded "There is no scientific justification for retaining the current [ozone standard]." The Committee recommended a new ozone standard be set between 60 and 70 parts per billion over an eight hour period. This recommendation was reiterated in April 2007.

Since then, the EPA's Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee, hundreds of scientists and doctors, and public health organizations across the country have called on the EPA to adopt an ozone standard of 60 parts per billion over an eight hour period to provide full protection of our health.

Defying its scientists, the EPA proposed today to set a new ozone standard of above 70 parts per billion. In Colorado, this could have dire consequences across the state.

Long considered only an urban problem, ozone is increasingly rising to unhealthy levels in rural Colorado, largely a result of rampant oil and gas drilling. Between 2004 and 2006, average eight hour ozone concentrations have risen above 60 parts per billion in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and in rural La Plata County.

Additionally, eight hour ozone concentrations throughout the Denver metro area and in Colorado Springs regularly rise above 60 parts per billion. In 2006 alone, ozone concentrations in the Denver metro area rose above 60 parts per billion on over 110 days, more than 1/3 of the year.

With ozone regularly rising above 60 parts per billion throughout the state, the EPA's proposal shuts the door on clean, safe, and healthy air in Colorado. To keep Colorado safe, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action is calling on the EPA to adopt an ozone standard of no more than 60 parts per billion over an eight hour period.

"We're in the midst of a health crisis here in Colorado. Smog is plaguing all four corners of our state and sadly, the EPA's proposal will keep it this way," said Nichols. "We can't afford to hold our breath; we need clean air today for tomorrow."

The EPA's proposal is now open for public review and comment. The agency has until March of 2008 to finalize a new ozone standard.

(END) 


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