Washington, DC – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Standard and Low Sulfur Gasoline Rule, a proposed standard that will reduce the sulfur content in gasoline and reduce pollution from tailpipes.
EPA estimates that the proposed standard will annually prevent as many as 2,400 premature deaths, 23,000 cases of respiratory ailments in children, and 1.8 million lost school days, work days, and days when activities would be restricted due to air pollution by 2030. Total health benefits from the standard are between $8 and $23 billion annually. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee’s Oversight subcommittee, released the statement below applauding the announcement:
“Today the Obama Administration took much-needed action to reduce air pollution and protect the health of our citizens. Rhode Islanders, particularly seniors, children, and those with asthma, have suffered for too long from the so-called ‘bad air days’ that can land them in the hospital. This new standard means cleaner gasoline and cleaner vehicles, which will help us prevent a major source of the air pollution that causes those bad air days. This is a big step forward for public health.”
##
