New U.S. Air Pollution Rules Rankle Health Groups WASHINGTON The
U.S. government approved new air pollution standards Thursday,
promising "cleaner air to all Americans," but health and
environmental groups said the revised rules are too weak to
protect against lung disease and other pollution-related
ailments. Meanwhile, groups that represents U.S. electric power
companies -- one key source of the particle pollution addressed
by the standards -- said the new rules were too stringent.
Stephen Johnson, who heads the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, told reporters: "Today EPA is issuing the most health-
protective national air quality standards in our nation's
history." The new standards will reduce premature deaths, heart
attacks and hospital stays for people with heart and lung
disease and bring health benefits valued at between $20 billion
and $160 billion a year, Johnson said. Daily standards for the
amount of particles in the air were strengthened by nearly 50
percent, he said. Previously, U.S. law allo