CCAN applauds as Biden Administration sets tougher industry standards that could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars
Washington, DC — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another bold step to curb carbon pollution with their announcement of a final rule update to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM 2.5), more commonly known as the soot rule. The new rule is EPA’s first change to the annual exposure limit for fine particles in more than a decade.
The EPA’s new soot rule is expected to save an estimated 4,500 lives and deliver $46 billion in health benefits by 2032 by setting an average yearly soot exposure standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down sharply from the current threshold of 12 micrograms.
President Joe Biden and EPA Administrator Michael Regan deserve tremendous credit for finalizing a strong soot rule that will save lives and provide cleaner air in our communities, especially communities of color overburdened by deadly particulate matter from power plants.
Statement from Quentin Scott, Federal Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN):
“Nearly one year ago we gathered at EPA headquarters demanding a strong final soot rule. On behalf of CCAN and our members, we applaud President Biden and Administrator Regan for listening and acting on the concerns of more than 150 environmental justice, frontline, faith, and community leaders. We look forward to the EPA finalizing additional pollution rules in the coming weeks and months to further curb pollution from power plants and protect the most vulnerable.”
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