THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

                   STATEMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT GORE
                ON ADMINISTRATION ACTION TO REDUCE SMOG

Today's action by the Environmental Protection Agency to combat smog is another major step by this Administration to ensure cleaner, healthier air for millions of Americans.

The EPA strategy represents a common-sense solution to one of our most vexing environmental challenges -- controlling pollution that originates in one state but affects another. By significantly reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides -- a principal ingredient of lung-damaging smog -- this new strategy will enable hundreds of communities to meet federal air quality standards for the first time. And by giving states and utilities maximum flexibility to decide how best to reduce emissions, it ensures that these public health benefits are achieved at the least possible cost.

With today's announcement, EPA has given states an innovative blueprint for meeting the tough new smog standards that President Clinton announced last year. EPA's approach reflects valuable input from affected states and industries, and the agency is committed to working with all parties to ensure that implementation goes smoothly.

President Clinton and I are personally committed to achieving cleaner air for all Americans through flexible, cost-effective strategies that preserve and promote our economic vitality. Today's action is another important step in that direction.

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