Supreme Court Halts EPA Smog Rule, Delaying Progress on Air Quality Standards for Millions of Americans.

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted implementation of an EPA smog rule, a decision that could benefit power companies in their bid to block stricter pollution control requirements. This decision undermines federal efforts to bring the nation into full compliance with a key air pollution standard. The court’s decision could further delay progress towards healthier air, with tens of millions of Americans still living in areas with smog levels that leave them more vulnerable to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The new 70-parts-per-billion smog exposure standard was set in 2015, with predictions that most counties outside of California would hit the new limit by 2025.