View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings Printer-Friendly Version     Download RIN Data in XML

EPA/OAR RIN: 2060-AV52 Publication ID: Spring 2024 
Title: Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter 
Abstract:

Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977, EPA is required to review and if appropriate revise the air quality criteria for the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) every 5 years. On December 18, 2020, the EPA published a final decision retaining the NAAQS for particulate matter (PM), which was the subject of several petitions for reconsideration as well as petitions for judicial review. As directed in Executive Order 13990, "Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,” signed by President Biden on January 20, 2021, EPA undertook a reconsideration of the December 2020 decision to retain the PM NAAQS because the available scientific evidence and technical information indicated that the current standards may not be adequate to protect public health and welfare, as required by the Clean Air Act. As part of the reconsideration, EPA developed a Supplement to the 2019 PM Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) and a Policy Assessment to take into account the most up-to-date science on public health impacts of PM and engaged with the chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and a newly-constituted expert CASAC PM panel. The notice of proposed rulemaking was signed on January 5, 2023, and a final rule was announced on February 7, 2024. EPA set the level of the primary annual PM2.5 standard to 9 µg/m3. EPA retained all other PM NAAQS, including the primary and secondary 24-hour PM2.5 standards, the primary and secondary 24-hour PM10 standards, and the secondary annual PM2.5 standard. EPA also finalized revisions to the Air Quality Index (AQI) and monitoring network requirements.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 50   
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq, Clean Air Act   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  01/27/2023  88 FR 5558   
Final Rule  03/06/2024  89 FR 16202   
Final Rule Effective  05/06/2024 
Additional Information: EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Nicole Hagan
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code C504-06,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Phone:919 541-3153
Email: hagan.nicole@epa.gov

Karen Wesson
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code C504-06,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone:919 541-3515
Email: wesson.karen@epa.gov