Each weekend, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants. Since this equipment is used mostly during the hot summer months, when ground level ozone is the highest, it causes problems for asthmatics and aggravates other respiratory conditions. California officials made their case at a hearing before the Environmental Protection Agency, which must approve a waiver allowing the state?EUR??,,????'???s new rules to go into effect.

EPA officials won?EUR??,,????'???t make a final decision on the waiver until later this year?EUR??,,????'??+following a public comment period. They seemed to be leaning toward approving the waiver, however. ?EUR??,,????'??We are concerned that as other sources are controlled, this source is going to continue to be a bigger source for air pollution,?EUR??,,????'?? said Margo Oge, director of the agency?EUR??,,????'???s office of transportation and air quality.