Industry groups are campaigning against the new standards claiming they are too costly for the minimal benefits they will provide. They feel the government should continue with its current standards. The new regulations will put hundreds of counties out of compliance with the federal standards. The ad was pulled after environmental groups challenged the accuracy of the ad. The Sierra Club and the American Lung Association, proponents of the revisions, have also run radio ads in several markets.
Maine is sick of being America's tailpipe.
While much of the debate is focused on the costs associated with the new standards, there has also been increasing debate on the science behind the revisions. Senate Republicans have decided to make the science debate the center of their congressional hearings. There is a risk that the potential standards may lead to expensive controls targeted at the wrong aspect of the pollution problem. EPA reviewed more than 1,000 scientific studies before deciding to change the standards. The proposed change was also endorsed by EPA's independent advisory committee.