Regulatory Actions
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This page contains a chronological listing of regulatory actions and correspondence related to the PM2.5 standard.
December 5, 2005: EPA Upholds Fine Particle Pollution Designations
September 8, 2005: Proposed Rule to Implement the Fine Particle National Air Quality Standards
April 5, 2005: Twelve Areas Attain National Air Quality Standards for Fine Particle Pollution
Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule Will Help States Control Fine Particle Air Pollution
On March 29, 2007, EPA issued a final rule defining requirements for state plans to clean the air in 39 areas where particle pollution levels do not meet national air quality standards. Fine particles or "PM2.5" can aggravate heart and lung diseases and have been associated with premature death and a variety of serious health problems including heart attacks, chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks. This rule will help state and tribal environmental agencies develop and implement plans that will improve air quality for millions of Americans.
Final Rule (PDF) (83 pp, 524KB)
Fact Sheet
EPA Completes Response to Petitions Requesting Reconsideration of Fine Particle Designations
On December 5, 2005, EPA delivered letters to seven state and local government petitioners denying their requests that the Agency reconsider its decision to designate one or more full or partial county within their jurisdiction as nonattainment for EPA’s health-based national air quality standards for fine particle pollution. EPA sent an eighth letter to a government/business coalition denying their request to stay the effective date of the designations.
On January 20, 2006, EPA delivered letters to five state and local government petitioners denying their requests that the agency reconsider its decision to designate one or more full or partial county within their jurisdiction as nonattainment for EPA's health-based national air quality standards for fine particle pollution. EPA sent a sixth letter to Dynegy Midwest Generation Corporation, denying their request to remove the part of Randolph County, IL included in the St. Louis, MO-IL nonattainment area.
On August 16, 2007, EPA sent a letter to representatives for the Midwest Ozone Group and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce which denies their request that the Agency reconsider its decision to designate certain full or partial counties as nonattainment.
More information about state designations
Petitioner | Petition | EPA Response | Response Date |
---|---|---|---|
State of Connecticut | Letter (PDF) (3 pp, 168KB) | Letter (PDF) (4 pp, 935KB) | Dec 2005 |
Commonwealth of Virginia | Letter (PDF) (8 pp, 496KB) | Letter (PDF) (3 pp, 935KB) | Dec 2005 |
State of Maryland | Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 166KB) Attachment (12 pp, 672KB) |
Letter (PDF) (4 pp, 935KB) | Dec 2005 |
Guilford County, NC | Letter (PDF) (8 pp, 300KB) | Letter 1 (PDF) (5 pp, 935KB) Letter 2 (PDF) (5 pp, 935KB) |
Dec 2005 |
State of North Carolina | Letter (PDF) (3 pp, 123KB) | Letter (PDF) (4 pp, 935KB) | Dec 2005 |
State of Alabama | Letter (PDF) (6 pp, 254KB) | Letter (PDF) (3 pp, 945KB) | Dec 2005 |
State of Georgia | Letter (PDF) (4 pp, 498KB) | Letter (PDF) (3 pp, 935KB) | Dec 2005 |
Southwestern PA Growth Alliance | Letter (PDF)
(8 pp, 644KB) Attachment 1 (PDF) (10 pp, 653KB) Attachment 2 (PDF) (24 pp, 305KB) |
Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 935KB) | Dec 2005 |
Oakland Co, MI (first petition) |
Letter
1 (PDF) (83 pp, 404KB) Letter 2 (PDF) (4 pp, 167KB) Letter 3 (PDF) (4 pp, 159KB) |
Letter (PDF) (32 pp, 298KB) | Jan 2006 |
State of Michigan | Letter (PDF) (12 pp, 864KB) | Letter (PDF) (5 pp, 50KB) | Jan 2006 |
State of West Virginia | Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 110KB) | Letter (PDF) (8 pp, 177KB) | Jan 2006 |
State of Ohio | Letter (PDF) (32 pp, 1.0MB) | Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 24KB) | Jan 2006 |
State of Georgia | Letter (PDF) (7 pp, 69KB) | Letter (PDF) (70 pp, 937KB) | Jan 2006 |
Dynegy Midwest Generation | Letter (PDF) (166 pp, 2.6MB) | Letter (PDF) (9 pp, 91KB) | Jan 2006 |
Midwest Ozone Group/West Virginia Chamber of Commerce | Letter (PDF) (6 pp, 103KB) | Letter (PDF)
(18 pp, 1.2MB) Attachment (35 pp, 648KB) |
Aug 2007 |
Oakland Co, MI (second petition) |
Letter
1 (PDF) (1 p, 32KB) Attachment (PDF) (78 pp, 2MB) Letter 2 (PDF) (7 pp, 430KB) Appendix 1 (PDF) (473 pp, 6.3MB) Appendix 2 (PDF) (13 pp, 683KB) Appendix 3 (PDF) (28 pp, 2.3MB) |
Letter (PDF) (38 pp, 2.9MB) | Sep 2007 |
EPA will hold a public hearing Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005 on its proposed rule for the 1997 fine particle (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards. The hearing, at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, D.C., will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Federal Register notice on the comment period extension (PDF) (2 pp, 55KB)
Proposed Rule to Implement the Fine Particle National Air Quality Standardsrds
On September 8, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule implementing the 1997 fine particle (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards. The Agency will accept public comment on this proposal for 60 days from the date the notice appears in the Federal Register.
Proposed Rule (PDF) (85 pp, 728KB)
Fact Sheet
How to Comment
Twelve Areas Attain National Air Quality Standards for Fine Particle Pollution
On April 5, 2005, designations under the national air quality standards for fine particle pollution or PM2.5 became effective. EPA announced its decision on these designations in December 2004.
Fact sheet
Press release
Supplemental notice
Map of nonattainment areas
Table showing final designations
Areas changed to attainment status
Sample nonattainment requirements
PM2.5 Timeline
Benefits of meeting the PM2.5 standards
Particle pollution trends through 2003
PM2.5 health effects
PM standards review
Areas Designated Nonattainment for the Fine Particle National Air Quality Standards
On December 17, 2004, EPA took final action to designate attainment and nonattainment areas under the more protective national air quality standards for fine particles.
Fact sheet
Final designations rule
Preamble (PDF) (45 pp, 340KB)
Part 81
Map of nonattainment areas
Table showing nonattainment designations
In mid-February 2004, states and tribes recommended areas to be designated as "nonattainment". Nonattainment areas are those areas with air quality levels exceeding the standards, plus nearby areas contributing to such violations. EPA revised these recommendations and responded to the states and tribes in June 2004.
Fact SheetMap of EPA responses to PM2.5 recommendations
Comparison of state recommendations and EPA responses
PM2.5 Timeline
Benefits of meeting the PM2.5 standard
National trends in PM2.5 air quality
PM2.5 health effects
PM2.5 standards review