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New York Times (1923-Currentfile); Jul 30, 1981; .
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851?2007) With Index (1851?1993)

pg. A19

You and trigglean Air Agt - 

Health and, air quality standards

In the decade the Clean Air Act has been on
the books. there have been significant im-
provements in air quality. During the Seven-
ties alone. the nation witnessed a 20 percent
drop in average annual concentrations of sul-
fur dioxide and a one-third reduction in carbon
monoxide levels. But the Clean Air Act. in
many ways. has been a flawed law. Now the
Act is up for reauthorization. and Congress is
looking forways to improve its procedures and
adapt its philosophy to the needs and goals of
the Eighties.

Such Congressional review is long over-
due. Many of the studies used by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency to set national
ambient air quality standards. for example.
are out of date and don?t reflect current knowl-
edge. Moreover. several groups have ques-
tioned the validity and methodology of some of
these original studies.

The ozone or so?called smog standard.
for instance. that limits the level of hydrocar-
bon emissions from factories and cars. was
originally derived from disputed and largely
inconclusive data. In one key study. never
replicated. the researchers themselves were
also test subjects?a very unscientific pro-
cedure. Although EPA relaxed its orig-
inal ozone standard. the agency still kept
it about twice as strict as the level many in the
medical community feel is needed to protect
health. Emissions just from natural sources
are believed sometimes to exceed EPA
standards. so it?s little wonder that many
cities in the United States are currently not in
compliance.

When a region fails to meet EPA-
established national air quality standards for
any particular pollutant. it is classified as a
?non-attainment? area. to be saddled with
heavy environmental restrictions that inhibit
industrial growth and place huge economic
burdens on local industries?and the con-
sumers who buy from them. if a manufacturer
in a non?attainmentarea wants to modifya unit

or build a new plant. he must somehow elimi-
nate more air pollution in the surrounding area
than his new facility will produce. In the des-
perate scramble to find suitable "offsets." pe-
troleum companies in California. for example.
have resorted to paving over secondary dirt
roads?to keep down particulate matter-4n
exchange for EPA permission to produce
heavy oil from the ground with steam
generators.

Unfortunately. some parts of the country
may be running out of offsets and. unless the
law is changed. could find themselves unable
to allow new plant construction. Sections of
western and Gulf states. for example. may find
themselves unable to produce needed petro-
leum or coal. And factories could be barred
from areas of high unemployment in the
Northeast. The Clean Air Act. in short. could
damage the nation?s industrial prospects and
deny countless Americans the opportunity for
economic betterment and social progress-
without any accomp?ymgimprovement in
health benefits.

Without aborting the drive to improve air
quality in non-attainment areas. Congress
has the opportunity to do away with most of
these excesses?just by establishing realistic
airquality objectives. based on solid scientific
evidence?and by permitting greaterflexibility
in meeting these objectives. As America fights
the battle for industrial revitalization. eco-
nomic growth. and less dependence on for-
eign energy. the nation can no longer afford
the cost of complying with unnecessarily strict
air standards.

Everyone supports environmental laws
that protect human health. But needlessly
restrictive laws that jeopardize energy devel-
opment and imperil economic growth do no
one any good. In its review of the Clean AirAct.
Congress should make sure that air standards
are based on the latest scientific findings and
medical evidence. It's time to make the Clean
Air Act work for America in the Eighties.

Mobil?

?198t Mobil Corporation

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