1) Jan 31 -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that a virtual public hearing will be held for the proposed action titled, “Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter,” which was signed on January 5, 2023. The public hearing will be held via virtual platform on February 21, 2023, and February 22, 2023, and will convene at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and conclude at 7 p.m. ET each day. On each hearing day, the EPA may close a session 15 minutes after the last pre-registered speaker has testified if there are no additional speakers. The EPA will announce further details at
https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/national-ambient-air-quality-standards-naaqs-pm.
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-01924
2) Jan 27 -- Based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) reconsideration of the air quality criteria and the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), the EPA proposes to revise the primary annual PM2.5 standard by lowering the level. The Agency proposes to retain the current primary 24-hour PM2.5 standard and the primary 24-hour PM10 standard. The Agency also proposes not to change the secondary 24-hour PM2.5 standard, secondary annual PM2.5 standard, and secondary 24-hour PM10 standard at this time. The EPA also proposes revisions to other key aspects related to the PM NAAQS, including revisions to the Air Quality Index (AQI) and monitoring requirements for the PM NAAQS. Comments must be received on or before March 28, 2023.
The EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on this proposed rule. This hearing will be announced in a separate Federal Register document that provides details, including specific dates, times, and contact information for these hearings.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-00269 [162 pages]
2) Jan 6 -- EPA Proposes to Strengthen Air Quality Standards to Protect the Public from Harmful Effects of Soot [news release]
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a proposal to strengthen a key national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for fine particle pollution, also known as PM2.5, to better protect communities, including those most overburdened by pollution. Fine particles, sometimes called soot, can penetrate deep into the lungs and can result in serious health effects that include asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death – disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations including children, older adults, those with heart or lung conditions, as well as communities of color and low-income communities throughout the United States. These particles may be emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks, or fires; other particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industrial facilities, and vehicles.
EPA’s proposal will specifically take comment on strengthening the primary (health-based) annual PM2.5 standard from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to a level between 9 and 10 micrograms per cubic meter, reflecting the latest health data and scientific evidence; the Agency is also taking comment on the full range (between 8 and 11 micrograms per cubic meter) included in the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee’s (CASAC) latest report. . . .
Since EPA completed its last review of the PM NAAQS in 2012, thousands of new scientific studies have demonstrated the dangers of soot exposure. Strengthening the primary annual PM2.5 standard is expected to address disparities and would result in significant public health benefits. EPA estimates that if finalized, a strengthened primary annual PM2.5 standard at a level of 9 micrograms per cubic meter, the lower end of the proposed range, would prevent:
-- up to 4,200 premature deaths per year;
-- 270,000 lost workdays per year;
-- result in as much as $43 billion in net health benefits in 2032.
EPA will work closely with state, local, and Tribal air agencies to implement the revised primary annual PM2.5 standard when finalized. Today’s proposal is the latest in a broader suite of programs under President Biden’s leadership to reduce air pollution that threatens communities. These programs include the proposed Good Neighbor Plan to address smog that affects downwind states, rules to address air pollution from oil and gas operations, including methane pollution, and other critical rules to reduce emissions from power plants and the transportation sector, such as the recently finalized Clean Trucks Rule that will slash smog- and soot-forming pollution from heavy-duty trucks. Additionally, funding from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at cutting pollution from school buses and trucks, port operations, and electricity generation are also expected to reduce soot and other harmful air pollutants.
EPA is also proposing to revise other aspects related to the PM standards – such as monitoring requirements and the Air Quality Index (AQI) – that will help states and Tribal Nations meet the revised standards while making significant strides toward protecting the health of all people, including at-risk populations. The Agency is proposing to retain the primary 24-hour PM2.5 standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter, while taking comment on revising this level to as low as 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
In June 2021, EPA announced it would reconsider the previous administration’s December 2020 decision to retain the 2012 PM2.5 standards, because available scientific evidence and technical information indicated that the standards may not be adequate to protect public health and welfare. In developing today’s proposal, EPA considered the best available science and technical information, including an Integrated Science Assessment and updated Policy Assessment that were made available for public comment and for expert review by the Agency’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and CASAC PM expert panel. EPA carefully evaluated the recommendations of the CASAC in developing the proposed rule.
EPA will accept public comment for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. EPA will also conduct a virtual public hearing over several days for this proposed rulemaking, with the hearing beginning at 11:00 am Eastern Time and concluding at 7:00 pm ET each day. EPA will begin pre-registering speakers for the hearing upon publication of the announcement of the public hearings in the Federal Register.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-strengthen-air-quality-standards-protect-public-harmful-effects-soot
3) Proposed Decision for the Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (PM)
On January 6, 2023, after carefully reviewing the most recent available scientific evidence and technical information, and consulting with the Agency’s independent scientific advisors, EPA announced its proposed decision to revise the primary (health-based) annual PM2.5 standard from its current level of 12.0 µg/m3 to within the range of 9.0 to 10.0 µg/m3. EPA also proposed not to change the current:
-- secondary (welfare-based) annual PM2.5 standard,
-- primary and secondary 24-hour PM2.5 standards, and
-- primary and secondary PM10 standards.
In addition, EPA proposed revisions to other key aspects related to the PM NAAQS, including revisions to the Air Quality Index (AQI) and monitoring requirements.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the EPA Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-01/PM%20NAAQS%20NPRM%20-%20prepublication%20version%20for%20web.pdf
Fact Sheets:
Primary and Secondary Standards for Fine Particle Pollution (PM2.5) and Coarse Particle Pollution (PM10)
Air Monitoring for Fine Particle Pollution (PM2.5)
Air Quality Designations and Implementation
Wildland Fire, Air Quality, and Public Health Considerations
Regulatory Impact Analysis
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-01/naaqs-pm_ria_proposed_2022-12.pdf
Maps: Current and Projected Air Quality Data for Counties with Monitors
Table: Fine Particle Concentrations for Counties with Monitors Based on Air Quality Data 2019–2021
Presentation: Proposed Revisions to PM NAAQS - Overview Presentation
https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/proposed-decision-reconsideration-national-ambient-air-quality-standards-particulate