Panel of experts finds that anti-pollution laws are inadequate

[pmbryant]

From the NY Times: Jan 30 2004

Panel of Experts Finds That Anti-Pollution Laws Are Outdated

By ANDREW C. REVKIN

Despite three decades of progress, existing air-quality laws are inadequate to prevent pollution from threatening the environment and human health, the nation's top scientific advisory group concluded yesterday.

The panel, the National Research Council of the National Academies, said it was particularly concerned about ozone, an ingredient of smog that has proved difficult to curtail, and fine soot, which has been shown to be especially harmful.

State and local authorities in many polluted regions are increasingly finding that even if they control local emissions, they can end up violating federal standards because of additional pollution drifting from sources outside their jurisdiction.

And even though individual smokestacks and tailpipes are generally getting cleaner as a result of clean-air laws, their numbers are growing rapidly because of economic and population growth.

(snip)

In some cases existing rules can be improved, the report went on, but Congress will also have to pass new legislation, including revisions to the 1970 Clean Air Act.

(snip)

The report avoided direct endorsements or criticisms of policies of the Bush administration or its critics, instead promoting general approaches that the experts said were necessary to make environmental progress in the long run.

(snip)

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/30/science/30POLL.html

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Panel of Esperts, eh....

Straight from the pages of Duh! magazine.