"U.S. EPA has denied a petition from environmentalists to name nearly 60 areas of the country out of compliance with the federal ozone standard.

In a letter obtained by Greenwire, the agency late last week told the Sierra Club and Earthjustice, which is representing the group in the matter, that it would not redesignate the 57 areas as in nonattainment with the 2008 ozone standard. New data show that some of the areas already are meeting the standard, while other areas should be allowed time to address their air quality problems, EPA said.

"The EPA has carefully evaluated the issues and information in your petition. ... EPA is denying the petition using the discretion that the Clean Air Act affords me," EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy wrote in the Aug. 14 letter."

Amanda Peterka reports for Greenwire August 18, 2014. [2]