OMB CRITICISM OF EPA OZONE RISK ESTIMATES MAY UNDERMINE FUTURE RULES

EPA staff say White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) officials are dismissing agency ozone mortality risk estimates, which may weaken EPA's ability to justify upcoming rules imposing emissions limits on mobile sources, power plants and industrial boilers. EPA analysts are currently combining ozone mortality estimates for upcoming national air standards from four extensive studies that show that ozone exposures can cause premature deaths. The EPA review would mark a first-time endorsement of recent scientific studies showing that ozone's...