We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
ASSESSING OBAMA'S DECISION NOT TO SUPPORT EPA'S REVISED OZONE STANDARD: A FURTHER RETREAT FROM A PROGRESSIVE AGENDA?
- Authors
Richmond, Martha E.
- Abstract
Responding to the Obama administration's decision in September, 2011 not to support the US Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to lower the ambient ozone standard, a November 17, 2011 New York Times editorial noted that this decision "may well go down as the worst environmental decision of [Obama's] administration-unless, or course, even more damaging retreats lie ahead." Ambient ozone, part of the mix of urban air pollutants commonly known as smog, is associated with numerous health symptoms, including asthma. This often serious condition disproportionately affects children, people of color and those living in poverty, and accounts for 13-14 million lost school days annually. According to the EPA, the revised standard would have protected up to 38,000 people from asthmatic health symptoms. Given the intense lobbying against the revised standard, it is difficult not to attribute Obama's decision to political considerations. In a larger sense, however, the decision may also demonstrate the failure of the "command and control" policy standard in the regulatory arena—one that, because of its inflexibility, creates an environment where regulatory proposals are often likely to fail. The following paper explores these issues and considers whether other approaches may be more effective
- Subjects
OBAMA, Barack, 1961-; UNITED States. Environmental Protection Agency; OZONE; AIR pollutants; SMOG; POVERTY in the United States
- Publication
Race, Gender & Class, 2013, Vol 20, Issue 1/2, p25
- ISSN
1082-8354
- Publication type
Article