WASHINGTON (Feb. 28, 2001)—The Environmental Protection Agency doesn´t have to balance compliance costs against health benefits in writing environmental regulations, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unanimously. The ruling disappointed the American Trucking Associations and other business organizations, which had filed suit claiming the EPA´s ozone and particulate standards under the Clean Air Act usurped Congress´ authority and were unreasonable on their face.
The high court did order the EPA to reconsider its ozone standard because its interpretation of a portion of the Clean Air Act was unreasonable.
"Without having seen the decision in detail, it doesn´t look like it bodes well for the ergonomics debate," said Becky MacDicken, government affairs director for the Tire Association of North America, which opposes the ergonomics rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on the grounds that it is prohibitively expensive and of uncertain value.