Smog standards case resources

In October 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened America's national air quality standard for ground-level ozone—more commonly known as smog. In order to move forward with the implementation of the revised standard, the Clean Air Act required that EPA determine which areas of the country meet or exceed this standard by October, 2017. However in June of 2017 former Administrator Scott Pruitt abruptly announced he was delaying implementation of the 2015 smog standard for one year. The decision put the health of American families at risk.

EDF joined a broad coalition of public health and environmental groups asking the court to block EPA's unlawful delay and to ensure implementation of the protective smog standards.

In March of 2018, a U.S. District Court ordered EPA to move forward with implementation of the standards. By July of 2018, EPA had identified the areas across the country that meet or exceed the standard.

EDF will keep working on the next step – reducing the smog in our air.

Litigation over delay of 2015 smog standards