Read on Twitter
1/ BREAKING: The Trump administration on Monday rejected setting tougher standards on soot, the nation’s most widespread deadly air pollutant, even as some public health and environmental justice activists had pleaded for stricter limits. W/ @brady_dennis https://wapo.st/3qIQFhR
2/ The annual average soot standards @EPA is keeping in place for the next 5 years - 12 micrograms per cubic meter - have been in place since 2012. The daily level, 35 micrograms per cubic meter, has been in place since 2006.
3/ There is a growing body of evidence that tighter standards would prevent tens of thousands of deaths each year. EPA staff scientists last year recommended that the annual level be lowered to b/w 8 and 10 micrograms. Putting it at 9 would save 9050 to 34,600 lives, they found.
4/ We also found several documents related to other EPA air rules in which administration officials warned the agency that its rollbacks would disproportionately harm low-income Americans and ones of color, who suffer more air pollution and therefore may face greater #COVID risks
5/ On a recent methane rollback, for example, an official wrote, “implementing this rule will have adverse human health and environmental effects on racial and ethic minorities, low-income and rural populations.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/white-house-review-of-methane-rule/557950bc-7493-48dd-952b-2771325b243a/
