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EPA/AR

RIN: 2060-AO47

Publication ID: Fall 2010

Title: Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter
Abstract: Under the Clean Air Act, 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 October 17, 2006, EPA published a final rule to revise the primary and secondary NAAQS for particulate matter to provide increased protection of public health and welfare. With regard to the primary standard for fine particles (generally referring to particles less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter, PM2.5), EPA revised the level of the 24-hour PM2.5 standard to 35 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) and retained the level of the annual PM2.5 standard at 15 ug/m3. With regard to primary standards for particles generally less than or equal to 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10), EPA retained the 24-hour PM10 standard and revoked the annual PM10 standard. With regard to secondary PM standards, EPA made them identical in all respects to the primary PM standards, as revised. EPA initiated the current review in 2007 with a workshop to discuss key policy-relevant issues around which EPA would structure the review. This review includes the preparation of an Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), Risk/Exposure Assessment (REA), and a Policy Assessment (PA) by EPA, with opportunities for review by EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and the public. These documents inform the Administrator's decision as to whether to retain or revise the standards. The ISA was completed in December 2009, the final REAs for health risk assessment and visibility assessment were finalized in June and July 2010, respectively. The first draft PA was reviewed by CASAC on April 8-9, 2010. The second draft Policy Assessment was reviewed by CASAC on July 26-27, 2010.
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)	Priority: Economically Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
Major: Yes	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 50
Legal Authority: 42 USC 7408 42 USC 7409

Legal Deadline: None

Statement of Need: As established in the Clean Air Act, the national ambient air quality standards for particulate matter are to be reviewed every 5 years.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Section 109 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7409) directs the Administrator to propose and promulgate "primary" and "secondary" national ambient air quality standards for pollutants identified under section 108 (the "criteria" pollutants). The "primary" standards are established for the protection of public health, while "secondary" standards are to protect against public welfare.

Alternatives: The main alternatives for the Administrator's decision on the review of the national ambient air quality standards for particulate matter are whether to retain or revise the existing standards and, if revisions are necessary, the indicators, averaging times, forms and levels of the revised standards. Options for these alternatives will be developed as the rulemaking proceeds.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The Clean Air Act makes clear that the economic and technical feasibility of attaining standards are not to be considered in setting or revising the NAAQS, although such factors may be considered in the development of State plans to implement the standards. Accordingly, the Agency prepares cost and benefit information in order to provide States information that may be useful in considering different implementation strategies for meeting proposed or final standards. Cost and benefit information is not developed to support a NAAQS rulemaking until sufficient policy and scientific information is available to narrow potential options for the form and level associated with any potential revisions to the standard. Therefore, work on developing the plan for conducting the cost and benefit analysis will generally start 1 1/2 to 2 years following the start of a NAAQS review.

Risks: During the course of this review, risk assessments have been conducted to evaluate health risks associated with retention or revision of the particulate matter standards.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	03/00/2011
Final Action	11/00/2011

Additional Information: EPA Docket information: EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0492
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No	Government Levels Affected: Federal, Local, State, Tribal
Small Entities Affected: No	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes
RIN Information URL: www.epa.gov/air/particlepollution/
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No
Agency Contact: Beth Hassett-Sipple Environmental Protection Agency Air and Radiation MD-13, C504-06, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Phone:919 541-4605 Fax:919 541-0237 Email: hassett-sipple.beth@epa.gov Karen Martin Environmental Protection Agency Air and Radiation C504-06, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Phone:919 541-5274 Fax:919 541-0237 Email: Martin.Karen@epamail.epa.gov