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EPA/AR RIN: 2060-AO47 Publication ID: Fall 2011 
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 standards for fine particles (PM2.5, generally referring to particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers, µm), EPA revised the level of the 24-hour PM2.5 standard to 35 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) and retained the level of the annual PM2.5 standard at 15 µg/m3. With regard to the primary standards for coarse particles (PM10, generally referring to particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 µm), EPA retained the 24-hour PM10 standard and revoked the annual PM10 standard. With regard to the 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 Assessments (REAs), and a Policy Assessment (PA) by EPA, with opportunities for review by EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) 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 human health risk assessment and visibility assessment were finalized in June and July 2010, respectively, and the PA was finalized in April 2011. 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Economically Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: Yes  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 50, 53, and 58     (To search for a specific CFR, visit the Code of Federal Regulations.)
Legal Authority: 42 USC 7408    42 USC 7409   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  To Be Determined    
Final Action  To Be Determined    
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: No 
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