The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday it is initiating a new review of ground-level ozone, otherwise known as smog, standards and pushing back the prospects of any immediate action to regulate the pollutant.

The EPA stated the need for the new review was to ensure “the standards reflect the most current, relevant science and protect people’s health from these harmful pollutants.” The agency also asserted that it would be taking into consideration the policy recommendations provided by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, an independent advisory panel for the agency.

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“In light of CASAC’s significant comments on the draft policy assessment and its advice on the importance of new studies not evaluated in the 2020 Integrated Science Assessment, it is clear that CASAC’s careful review has identified several issues arising in the reconsideration that warrant additional evaluation and review, both by the EPA and by CASAC, including newly available information that has not yet been integrated into the air quality criteria and the value of developing additional analyses to inform further evaluation of the current standards,” EPA Administrator Michael Reagan said in a newly published letter.

Back in October 2021, the agency said it would be moving forward with a reconsideration of the Trump administration’s decision to keep the current air quality standards for ozone, which was 70 parts per billion. CASAC had recommended strengthening the limit to between 55 and 60 parts per billion.

The EPA’s decision to delay the ozone standard review drew criticism from green groups, which are urging the agency to quickly follow through on its promise of reviewing the Trump administration’s requirements.

“As a result of today’s decision, if the EPA doesn’t pick up the pace, the agency would likely complete its review in the late 2020s, denying communities any chance of stronger ozone standards until implementation began sometime in the early 2030s,” a press statement from EarthJustice reads. “The EPA’s decision comes despite mounting evidence of the adverse health impacts and environmental damage caused by ozone pollution. Environmental advocacy groups condemn the decision as scientifically, legally and morally insupportable.”

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Delaying the decision could also push the burden of responsibility to another administration, which could help the EPA avoid a politically difficult decision ahead of the 2024 election.

The agency also laid out next steps following the decision, which included a call for information in the Federal Register “in the next few days,” convening a public science and policy workshop in the spring of next year to “gather input from the scientific community and the public” and incorporate these findings to inform the review. The agency is aiming to release an integrated review plan in fall 2024.