environment
EPA to stop calculating money and lives saved by curbs on air pollution
Agency to focus rules for fine particulate matter and ozone only on cost to industry, aligning with Trump approach
TL;DR
- EPA will stop monetizing health benefits, such as avoided healthcare costs and prevented deaths, from air pollution rules for fine particulate matter and ozone.
- The agency states it remains committed to protecting human health and the environment but will not monetize impacts 'at this time'.
- Environmental and public health advocates criticize the decision as a dangerous abdication of the EPA's core mission and potentially illegal.
- Critics argue this change allows industry to pollute more, while communities suffer from increased health issues.
- The EPA's decision is part of a broader realignment towards a business-friendly approach under the Trump administration.
- The agency is also seeking to abandon a rule setting tough standards for soot pollution.
- The EPA claims it continues to recognize the benefits of reducing PM2.5 and ozone, stating that 'Not monetizing DOES NOT equal not considering or not valuing the human health impact'.
- A new EPA rule on nitrogen oxide pollution from power plants is less restrictive than a previous proposal and does not estimate the economic value of health benefits.
- Critics argue the new NOx rule weakens protections and demonstrates the risks of the EPA's new approach to valuing health benefits.