Green Jersey

N.J. and others sue over smog rules

Above: A smoggy day at Liberty State Park. Photo by Jennifer Weiss.

New Jersey and 10 other states filed suit today against the federal government, attempting to overturn smog rules they consider too weak.

Also involved in the suit are the District of Columbia, New York City, and Pennsylvania’s department of environmental protection.

Earthjustice, a public interest law firm, filed a parallel suit today on behalf of national health and environmental groups: the American Lung Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association and Appalachian Mountain Club.

The suits take issue with the fact that in March, the EPA lowered its maximum levels of ozone, a.k.a. smog, to 75 parts per billion from 84 — when an EPA advisory board, and experts, had recommended a lower limit of 60 to 70 parts per billion.

Click here for information from the American Lung Association on the state of New Jersey’s air.