PM Standards Revision - 2006

  HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/naaqsrev2006.html"
\l "background#background"  Background

  HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/naaqsrev2006.html"
\l "what#what"  What do the new standards mean for your area?

  HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/naaqsrev2006.html"
\l "maps#maps"  Maps

  HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/naaqsrev2006.html"
\l "timeline#timeline"  Timeline

  HYPERLINK "http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/naaqsrev2006.html"
\l "more#more"  More information

Background

Particle pollution, also called particulate matter or PM, is a complex
mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets in the air.
When breathed in, these particles can reach the deepest regions of the
lungs. Exposure to particle pollution is linked to a variety of
significant health problems, ranging from aggravated asthma to premature
death in people with heart and lung disease. Particle pollution also is
the main cause of visibility impairment in the nation’s cities and
national parks.

To protect public health and welfare, EPA issues National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for   HYPERLINK
"http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/"  six criteria pollutants , particulate
matter is one of these.  EPA first issued standards for particulate
matter in 1971; and revised the standards in 1987 and 1997.  In
September 2006, the Agency revised the 1997 standards.

The revised 2006 standards address two categories of particle pollution:
fine particles (PM2.5), which are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and
smaller; and inhalable coarse particles (PM10) which are smaller than 10
micrometers and larger than 2.5 micrometers.

The 2006 standards tighten the 24-hour fine particle standard from 65
micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) to 35 µg/m3, and retain the current
annual fine particle standard at 15 µg/m3.

EPA has decided to retain the existing 24-hour PM10 standard of 150
µg/m3. Due to a lack of evidence linking health problems to long-term
exposure to coarse particle pollution, the Agency has revoked the annual
PM10 standard.

The Agency selected the levels for the final standards after reviewing
thousands of peer-reviewed scientific studies about the effects of
particle pollution on public health and welfare. External scientific
advisors and the public examined EPA's science and policy review
documents. The Agency also carefully considered public comments on the
proposed standards. EPA held three public hearings and received over
120,000 written comments.

While EPA provisionally assessed new, peer-reviewed studies about
particulate matter and health (including some studies received during
the comment period), these studies were not the basis for the final
decision. EPA will consider those studies during the next review of the
PM standards.    HYPERLINK
"http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/process.html"  Learn more
about the process of reviewing air quality standards .

What do the New Standards Mean for Your Area?

In 2004, several areas in the United States were designated as not
meeting the 1997 air quality standards for fine particulate matter
(PM2.5).    HYPERLINK
"http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/1997standards/state.htm"  See if your
area was designated as not meeting the 1997 standards .

In 2006, EPA strengthened the air quality standards for particle
pollution.  The Agency expects designations based on 2007-2009 air
quality data to take effect in 2010.

Maps

  HYPERLINK
"http://www.epa.gov/oar/particlepollution/pdfs/20061025_graphsmaps.pdf"
Graph and Maps (10/25/06)  (PDF, 10 pp, 1.2 MB)

Timeline

Milestone	1997 PM2.5 Primary NAAQS	2006 PM2.5 Primary NAAQS

Promulgation of Standard	July 1997	Sep. 2006

Effective Date of Standard	Sep. 1997	Dec. 18, 2006

State Recommendations to EPA	Feb. 2004

(based on 2001-2003 monitoring data)	Dec. 18, 2007

(based on 2004-2006 monitoring data)

Final Designations Signature	Dec. 2004	No later than Dec. 18, 2008*

Effective Date of Designations	April 2005	Typically no later than 90
days after publication in the Federal Register

SIPs Due	April 2008	3 years after effective date of designations

Attainment Date	April 2010

(based on 2007-2009 monitoring data)	No later than 5 years after
effective date of designations

Attainment Date with Extension	Up to April 2015	No later than 10 years
from effective date of designations

* In the event the Administrator has insufficient information to
promulgate the designations by December 18, 2008, the date of final
designations may be extended up to one year, but no later than December
18, 2009.

More Information