The EPA asks court to delay clean air standards

The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to periodically review emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants, based on advances in pollution-control technology and risks to public health (especially for cancer). Due to budget and workforce limits, the agency sometimes takes too long to complete the reviews, prompting lawsuits from environmental groups. A federal judge in one such case in March ordered the EPA to complete seven overdue reviews by next year and another six by 2020. Rather than accept the ruling, the Trump administration is appealing the judge’s order and seeking further delays. Worse yet, these reviews and others could be pushed back even longer if Congress approves President Trump’s proposal to cut the EPA’s budget by almost a third—putting the health of all Americans at even greater risk.