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EPA's Dirty Secret About The Environment
By John Merline 

The Environmental Protection Agency late last month proposed strict new "clean fuel" standards on gasoline. The EPA said the so-called Tier 3 rule would cut emissions of smog-forming pollutants, as well as toxic emissions like benzene. 

What the EPA didn't say was that levels of these pollutants have been falling steadily for years, and would continue to fall even without the new rule, which the oil industry says will cost tens of billions of dollars. 

Indeed, a fact that won't get much attention on Earth Day — April 22 — is that pollution has been falling across the board for decades, even while the nation's population and economy have expanded. Overall air pollution levels dropped 62% from 1990 to 2012, while GDP grew 69% and population climbed 26%. 

Everything has seen declines: carbon monoxide, soot, sulfur dioxide, ozone, lead and others. Many are now below the EPA's safety threshold. 

CO2 At 20-Year Low 

Even carbon dioxide emissions dropped Hayward released the latest almanac on April 16. 

Other environmental measures also show steady improvement. 

Water quality, including drinking water, has improved over the past several decades. And per-capita water use has declined 30% since 1975, notes the U.S. Geological Survey. 

There are about 20 million more acres of forest land now than there were 20 years ago, according to the Forest Service. 

Trend Should Continue 

Even if no new environmental rules were introduced, these improvements will likely continue, as newer, more efficient technology continues to replace older equipment. As Hayward notes, "reductions in air pollution are occurring more rapidly than the EPA's models have forecast." 

Yet in the face of these successes, the EPA has only accelerated its regulatory efforts. 

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