State officials deem new limits a challenge as Denver grapples with violations

By Steve Lipsher

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cut its tolerance for ozone across the country Wednesday, at a time when the Denver metro area is violating the existing standard on the key ingredient of smog.

The move — which was short of an EPA scientific advisory committee recommendation — drew criticism from environmental groups and legislators.

“While this is a good step in the right direction as far as keeping us safe from air pollution, the EPA’s decision defies its own scientists and calls from health organizations across the country,” said Jeremy Nichols, director of Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action.

The new standard continues the ever-tighter national limits that have reduced the pollutant by 21 percent since 1980.

“America’s air is cleaner today than it was a generation ago, and this success hasn’t happened by accident,” EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said in announcing the new standard.

Ground-level ozone is formed through a mixture of sunlight, heat and the chemicals released primarily in motor-vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. The gas is a respiratory irritant that most drastically affects the young, the elderly and those with breathing problems.

Last year, the agency’s independent science panel unanimously recommended setting the acceptable level of ozone in the air at between 60 and 70 parts per billion to protect human health.

Johnson rejected that, instead reducing the standard to 75 parts per billion, down from the current 84 parts per billion.

“The clean air scientific advisory panel is an advisory committee. It is my decision, not their decision,” Johnson said in a telephone news conference.

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat and vice chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, criticized the new standards. 

“Once again, the Bush administration has chosen polluters over people and the environment in minimally lowering the ozone air-quality standard,” she said in a statement.

Air-quality officials in Denver greeted the new standards with resignation as they struggle to come up with solutions to the region’s existing ozone problem.

“We’re at less than 1 part per billion over the current standard, so I don’t think that’s a monumental task,” said Ken Lloyd, executive director of the Regional Air Quality Council. “You lower it another 10 parts per billion, that’s going to take significantly more effort.”

The council, which advises the state Department of Public Health and Environment on pollutioncontrol rules, is working on a slate of reduction measures, such as mandatory use of alternative fuels and restrictions on industry.