President Obama pulls back on ozone standards

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The White House says it wants the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw a draft plan for air quality standards for ozone.

In a statement, President Obama said he is asking EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to withdraw the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards plan, as part of an effort to reduce regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty as the U.S. economy struggles to recover.

"Work is already under way to update a 2006 review of the science that will result in the reconsideration of the ozone standard in 2013," the president said in the statement released by the White House Friday.

"Ultimately, I did not support asking state and local governments to begin implementing a new standard that will soon be reconsidered," the president said.

The president emphasized his administration's commitment to protecting the public health and the environment, saying it would "continue to vigorously oppose efforts to weaken EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act or dismantle the progress we have made."