"The Trump administration began the process Tuesday of reviewing federal standards for smog, a move that clean air advocates fear could worsen already poor air quality in New Jersey.
The move is the start of the regular five-year review of ozone standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that were strengthened in 2015 under the Obama administration to the chagrin of business leaders who contended they were too strict.
But the early start of EPA's review comes after President Donald Trump has begun moving toward weakening clean air standards in an effort to boost the nation's manufacturing sector. And EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt told an outside advisory panel that makes recommendations on ozone standards to consider not only health effects but “economic or energy effects” as well, a departure from past reviews.
"The review is supposed to be based solely on what standard is best to protect health, so this is very concerning to us," said Paul Billings, a senior vice president at the American Lung Association."
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