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EPA Announces Strategy To Reduce Air Toxics

Release Date: 07/07/1999
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(#99106B) Washington, D.C. -- As part of the national air toxics program, EPA today announced a strategy to further reduce toxic air emissions in hundreds of areas across the country to protect public health and the environment, particularly in urban areas. Toxic air pollutants include those known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health problems, such as birth defects. The new strategy identifies 33 toxic air pollutants -- such as benzene, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) -- that present the greatest threat to public health.

"The Clinton Administration already has taken the most aggressive actions to reduce harmful levels of air pollution that threaten public health and the environment," said EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner. "We now will take the next step to protect the millions of people who live in areas where concentrations of toxic air pollutants are too high."

This strategy, required by the Clean Air Act, includes goals to reduce cancer risks by 75 percent, to substantially reduce non-cancer risks, and to address areas where low-income and minority communities may be disproportionately affected by air toxic pollutants. The strategy outlines how EPA will work in partnership with State, local and Tribal governments to monitor air toxic levels and develop plans and actions to reduce toxic air pollution.

EPA has already taken steps that will reduce airborne toxics by more than one million tons per year nationally. Since 1990, EPA has significantly reduced air toxics by regulating over 70 categories of major industries that emit toxic air pollution. For example, one rule affecting large chemical manufacturing plants has reduced air toxics from these sources by 90 percent. EPA has set other similar standards for oil refineries, aerospace manufacturers, and steel mills. Already, EPA standards have reduced significant levels of air toxics emissions from gasoline and motor vehicles, and EPA is currently examining setting new requirements for addressing diesel fuel toxics. The new strategy lists 13 additional industrial categories for reductions over the next five years. Other categories will be added as new data emerge.

The final strategy will appear soon in the Federal Register, but can be accessed immediately, along with additional information, on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/ttn/uatw/urban/urbanpg.html. For further technical information on the strategy contact Laura McKelvey of EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards at 919-541-5497.

For more information contact:
Mary Mears, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3669 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: [email protected]