In response to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releasing a final National Soot Standard that tightens the annual standard for soot pollution, from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, Evergreen Action Senior Power Sector Policy Lead Charles Harper released the following statement: 

“The Biden administration’s announcement today takes a critical step toward cutting air pollution that puts hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk and protecting frontline communities who are exposed to disproportionate levels of deadly soot pollution. By strengthening the national soot standard, EPA is tightening its grip on dangerous air pollution and will prevent 4,500 deaths per year—and hundreds of thousands of other medically related events.”

“It’s clear that EPA has taken strong and necessary action on soot, but the administration’s job isn't done yet. There is more work to do to tighten other air quality standards, including the national ozone standard and the 24-hour soot standard. President Biden and his team at EPA are now in their fourth quarter; they must finalize all key power sector and air pollution regulations in order to truly accomplish the climate agenda they set out to achieve in the president’s first term. We look forward to working with them to get it done.”

Evergreen previously released an EPA Power Sector Report Card, highlighting EPA’s progress on 10 key power sector and air quality rules that are critical to reining in pollution that harms frontline communities and is exacerbating the climate crisis. You can read the full report here.

###