Carter County mayor voices opposition to new EPA rules | Johnson City Press

Humphrey said in a press release that “the proposed regulations would set up substantial barriers to economic development in non-attainment counties, and it would become difficult for many existing businesses to expand. Counties could also lose federal funds.”

“The harsher NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standard) under consideration would carry a substantial economic hardship for counties,” Humphrey wrote.

Humphrey said the proposed standards are coming at a bad time for many regions “as we, as a nation, continue to make our way out of the economic downturn, I urge the administration to help us keep the momentum going by turning down the proposed lower ozone standards.”

Humphrey said the federal limit is now set at 75 ppb (parts per billion). He said that under the proposal, the limit could go to as low as 65 ppb. The mayor said Carter County is in compliance under the the current limit. He said the National Association of Manufacturers warns that Carter County could run the risk of non-compliance, as could 88 of Tennessee’s 95 counties.

Citing the NAM study, Humphrey said Tennessee stands to lose an estimated 13,575 jobs or job equivalents and $32 billion in gross state product from 2017 to 2040. He said it would cost Tennessee drivers an added $768 million to own and operate their vehicles during the period from 2017 to 2040.

Humphrey also cited the results of a survey released by NAM. He said the survey shows that 67 percent of Americans rate their local air quality as excellent or good, and more than half oppose stricter federal environmental regulations on local businesses. By a nearly three-to-one margin, Americans think that a bigger problem for their local area is “less economic growth and job opportunities caused by regulations” (66 percent) rather than “lower air quality caused by pollution” (23 percent).

Ironically, while the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce opposes lowering ozone standards, the current levels of ozone could be creating problems for tourism in the state. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park reports that ozone in the park is blown in on prevailing winds from outside the region. The park said the ozone exposures in the park are among the highest in the East and is worse on the ridge tops, where the ozone levels can be two or three times the levels at nearby Knoxville or Asheville, N.C.

The park cites ozone as a powerful respiratory irritant for humans, especially for children, the elderly and those with existing health problems. The park said high ozone levels are also injuring trees and other plants.

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