For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has calculated the health benefits of reducing air pollution, using the cost estimates of avoided asthma attacks and premature deaths to justify clean-air rules. Under the Trump administration, EPA plans to stop tallying gains from the health benefits caused by curbing two of the most widespread deadly air pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone, when regulating industry.
The change could address longstanding criticism from business groups, which have argued that the government gives too much weight to the benefits of reducing PM2.5 when setting limits on other pollutants like mercury and lead, Bracewell’s Jeff Holmstead told The New York Times.
