The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, but not to the levels recommended by its independent scientific advisors.  In addition, the Agency is taking comment on the option of retaining the existing standard, leaving open the possibility that a final rule would leave the existing standard unchanged. (more…)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded a nine-year review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) on September 20, 2006 by ratifying the pre-existing annual average standard for fine particles and somewhat lowering the 24-hour average standard.  (more…)

EPA will hold three public hearings on its proposal to revise air quality standards for fine and coarse particles in Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The hearings will all take place on March 8, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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On December 20, 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced new limits on how much particle pollution can be in outdoor air. Unfortunately, despite a strong scientific consensus that both the annual and daily limits needed to be tighter to protect public health, EPA failed to propose adequate standards.
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On May 14, 1999, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) remanded the ozone NAAQS to EPA to consider the alleged beneficial health effects of ozone pollution in shielding the public from the “harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.”

After consideration of these effects, EPA has proposed to retain the ozone NAAQS of 0.08 ppm, 8-hour average.
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With the establishment of a new NAAQS for fine particles, EPA had to specify a new federal reference method for measuring fine particles, new criteria for placement of monitors, new schedules for data collection, and new procedures for ensuring the quality of particulate matter data.
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EPA’s final air quality standards — signed by Administrator Carol M. Browner on July 16, 1997 — are the first update in 20 years for ozone (smog). The updated standards, a major step forward in public health protection, will protect 125 million Americans, including 35 million children, from the health hazards of air pollution.
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EPA’s final air quality standards, signed by Administrator Carol M. Browner on July 16, 1997 are the first update in ten years for particulate matter (soot). The updated standards, a major step forward in public health protection, will protect 125 million Americans, including 35 million children, from the health hazards of air pollution.
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EPA issued final air quality standards for ozone and particulate matter on July 16, 1997. The Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) provides an assessment of the potential benefits, costs, and economic impacts associated with these standards.
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