Living in a major metropolitan area, just outside Philly, I can smell the bad air in the morning when I get up. I often wonder if it’s caused by a temperature inversion or whether it’s just the “natural” city smog.

But what really gets me is to hear that the Environmental Protection Agency is delaying once again when it comes setting the standards… once again. The EPA filed a federal appeals court motion stating that the agency plans to finalize its update of the smog or ozone pollution standard “shortly."

"The Sierra Club is troubled by the EPA’s motion today to delay a much needed and long overdue update of smog standards,” said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club in response.  “Smog – or ozone pollution – is an acidic air pollutant that when inhaled is like getting a ‘sunburn on your lungs.’

Smog can make it impossible to enjoy the outdoors in an urban and suburban setting. On a bad air quality day, running or hiking can be as bad for you as smoking a pack of cigarettes.

“Each year, smog affects millions of Americans, hitting young children, people with asthma and the elderly the hardest, and contributes to orange and red-alert air quality days that make it dangerous for people to be outdoors,” continued Brune.

I don’t think anyone who voted for President Obama expect him to be such a poor steward of our environment. I think most of us are downright perplexed.

“Once updated and implemented, protections against smog will save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of asthma attacks,” said Brune.  “The longer the delay, the greater the risk for the millions of Americans who suffer from respiratory illnesses – we urge the Obama Administration to move swiftly on this critical protection to save lives and clean up our air.”

Clean air. It really does seem like a no-brainer, doesn’t it?