The EPA announced this week that it was reconsidering plans to beef up its airborne lead monitoring network in response to a petition from environmental and health groups.
The EPA announced this week that it was reconsidering plans to beef up its airborne lead monitoring network in response to a petition from environmental and health groups.
In May 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tightened limits on airborne lead by a factor of 10 and announced an expansion of its shrinking surveillance network to cover 259 power plants, smelters and other facilities emitting half a ton of lead per year. Such a monitoring program was deemed necessary to ensure that all communities meet the EPA’s stricter standards.
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But less than two days before the final rule was to be announced on October 17, the White House Office of Management and Budget pressured EPA to reduce its plans to include only facilities that emitting a ton or more of lead per year.
