Smog

4 August 2008 -- As China makes last minute preparations to host the Olympics, the environment is proving to be one major wild card that Chinese leaders cannot totally control. Olympic host city Beijing has some of the most polluted air in the world. Despite measures aimed at clearing the skies, the air is still often a disturbing murky gray.

These days, people watch the skies above Beijing closely. Some days, especially after it rains, the skies are relatively clear.

More often than not, though, a thick murky haze fills the air and makes it nearly impossible to see nearby buildings.

What is causing Beijing's gray skies? Is it natural phenomena, or is it pollution?    » read more »

Nearly 20 years of data indicates air district broke federal law

LOS ANGELES (April 1, 2008) – Demanding an end to years of unregulated and illegitimate pollution credits provided by South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to polluting companies throughout the South Coast Air Basin, a coalition of environmental and environmental justice groups delivered a 60-day notice of intent to sue letter to the AQMD today.

Los Angeles smog: Photo by Ben Amstutz (CC)    » read more »

Boston, Mass., Oct. 1, 2007 – As the 2007 summer ozone season comes to an end, EPA today confirmed that New Englanders experienced a modest increase in the number of poor air quality days this year, compared to 2006. The increase in number of days with reduced air quality is related to hot weather experienced throughout the region during the summer.    » read more »

June 26, 2007 -- (AUGUSTA)-- Ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach unhealthy levels in the southern half of Maine on Wednesday according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The area of the state subject to high levels of ozone is expected to expand on Wednesday.    » read more »

Current Proposal Fails Governor’s Promise to Slash Air Pollution

LOS ANGELES (June 22, 2007) – Community, health and environmental advocates from across the state will urge the state air board today to improve its current plan to reduce smog and particle pollution.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is scheduled to vote today on a draft plan that fails to adequately protect public health and will not meet federal air quality goals.    » read more »

Old standard not enough to protect public health

WASHINGTON (June 21, 2007)—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new draft ozone pollution regulations that fall short of the standard recommended by EPA scientific experts.

Furthermore, the new rules would allow the agency to avoid tightening the standard altogether, despite unanimous agreement from its own scientists and science advisors that the current standard is not safe.    » read more »

Court shoots down EPA, industry appeals of 2006 ruling that weak agency smog rule violates Clean Air Act

Washington, D.C. – A panel of federal judges denied appeals by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and industry to overturn the same court’s December, 2006 ruling that struck down the agency’s rule attempting to weaken protections against harmful smog-forming pollution.    » read more »