On December 16, 2004, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved EPA’s request to extend the deadlines in the Consent Decree governing the dates for the completion of the review of the NAAQS for particulate matter and ozone.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter and ozone, two common air pollutants that have been implicated in a wide range of health problems. The EPA review process offers the opportunity to make significant improvements in public health.
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In the ongoing review of the particulate matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), there are a number of important policy issues at stake. This fact sheet outlines some of the key issues in the standard setting process that can affect the health-protectiveness of the air quality standards.

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The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards to safeguard public health against six common air pollutants: ozone (smog), particulate matter (soot), sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and lead.

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In 1997, after years of intensive scientific review, EPA set a new health standard for very tiny “fine” particles known as PM2.5, while retaining the standards for larger particles known as PM10.
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In 1997, EPA updated the national air quality standards for ozone, after years of intensive scientific review determined that the old standards were not adequate to protect public health.
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