The health research is clear. EPA needs to move ahead with these standards. In fact, just yesterday, the District Court in Arizona denied a motion by EPA that would have delayed the decision by another two months. The judge's ruling grants only three additional weeks for public comment until March 12 and extends the deadline for final action by just three weeks, to July 19, 1997. This decision underscores the urgency of the need for health protections and we applaud the decision.
Tighter standards are necessary to protect everyone, especially our children.
Children with asthma are a special concern to the Lung Association. Death rates from asthma have nearly doubled since 1979. We do not know what causes asthma. The only basis for setting health standards is protecting health, especially the health of the most vulnerable such as children with asthma. The law requires standards that protect public health and Americans demand nothing less.