EPA Staff Analysis Indicates PM Standards Need Strengthening, August 29, 2003
Staff scientists at EPA are suggesting that the health standards for fine particles need to be strengthened because scientific studies show serious health effects, even death, can occur at levels below the current standards.
The recommendations are contained in a “First Draft” Staff Paper on the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter, published by EPA on August 29, 2003, in accordance with a court-ordered schedule.
The Staff Paper assesses the public policy implications of the scientific information reviewed in the Criteria Document, and makes recommendations on four key aspects of the NAAQS:
1. the indicator pollutants;
2. the averaging times;
3. the ranges for the level of the standards; and
4. the form of the standard (how many exceedances will constitute a violation).
An earlier, preliminary draft Staff Paper published in June 2001 did not contain policy recommendations.
EPA [www.epa.gov] offers the document online. The August 2003 draft Staff Paper and related photographs showing the effect of fine particles on visual range can be found on the EPA website.
You may also find the draft Risk Assessment online.
In brief, the policy recommendations in the Staff Paper are as follows:
PM2.5 (fine particle) annual average standard: 12-15 µg/m3. The staff is questioning the appropriateness of spatial averaging.
PM2.5 (fine particle)24-hour standard: 30-50 µg/m3, 98th percentile.
PM10-2.5 (coarse particle) annual average standard: 13-30 µg/m3, at each monitor. The Staff Paper indicates that EPA might drop this standard in favor of only a 24-hour coarse particle standard.
PM10-2.5 (coarse particle) 24-hour standard: 30-75 µg/m3, 98th percentile
EPA is circulating the draft Staff Paper for review by the public and by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). The deadline for written comments is October 28, 2003, however EPA will accept comments beyond this deadline.
CASAC reviewed the document at a meeting on November 12-13, 2003 in Research Triangle Park, North Caroliina.
The American Lung Association’s written comments on the draft Staff Paper provide analysis and reaction to the proposed ranges and are attached below.
Attachments
- ALA Comments on First Draft Staff Paper, 11-11-03
- ala-111103-comments-on-dra-3.pdf
PDF file of ALA comments 11-11-03 on first draft staff paper
