Posted: November 18, 2009
On November 13, 2009, the EPA published, in the Federal Register, its final area designations for the 2006 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The EPA had announced its intentions concerning these areas on October 8. Most significantly, the new FR notice includes an effective date (December 14, 2009) for the area designations. Many significant deadlines concerning the administration of the 2006 PM2.5 health standards will be measured from this effective date.
Learn more about this action and its significance at the following locations:
Posted: October 8, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its final decision "nonattainment" areas for PM2.5 for fine particle standards (PM2.5).
The three EPA designated areas in Utah include:
PM2.5—approximately 1/30th the size of an average human hair—can aggravate heart and lung diseases and has been associated with a variety of serious health problems, including heart attacks, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Sources of PM2.5 include fuel combustion from automobiles, power plants, wood burning, industrial processes, and diesel-powered vehicles such as buses and trucks. In September 2006, the EPA dramatically strengthened the fine particle standards to protect public health, tightening the 24-hour standard from 65 to 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
The Utah Division of Air Quality will now work with stakeholders to develop a State Implementation Plan to meet the new standards.
For more information on this issue:
Revised: November 18, 2009