Press release:
Nine Calif. Areas Meet National Air Quality Standard for Smog
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that nine areas in California have met the 1997 national health-based air quality standard for smog, also known as ground-level ozone, within their regulatory deadlines. These areas are: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Ventura counties, as well as portions of Kern, Nevada and Sutter counties.
"Reducing smog is a major step forward in meeting Clean Air Act goals," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "Residents can breathe a little easier knowing that the air is cleaner in these counties."
EPA’s determinations are based on air quality data collected from state and local monitors that detect air pollutants throughout the state.
Notice of this attainment will be published in the Federal Register in the next few weeks and will be open for public comment. All comments will be addressed in a public document, but, if no comments are received, the action will become final 30 days from the date of publication.
While the Federal Register notice does not address the most recent 2008 national ozone standard, Amador, Sutter, and Tuolumne counties have attained that standard as well.
For more information on ground-level ozone and the national standards, visit: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/ozonepollution/.
For more information on the Clean Air Act, visit: http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/.
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Showing posts with label standard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label standard. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
West Pinal County in nonattainment for 1987 dust standard, EPA says
For Immediate Release: May 23,
2012
West Pinal County in nonattainment for 1987
dust standard, EPA says
SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared a
portion of western Pinal County, Ariz. to be in nonattainment for the 1987
federal PM10 coarse particulate matter
standard.
Today’s redesignation is based on EPA’s October
2010 proposal and recent air quality monitoring data for PM10.
Based on
comments in response to the 2010 proposal, EPA reduced the size of the
nonattainment area, relative to its proposed nonattainment area, by about 36
percent.
Monitoring
results showed widespread, frequent, and in some instances, severe, violations
over the last decade. In fact, western Pinal County PM10 levels are
among the worst in the country.
EPA sets national protective standards for
pollutants such as particulate matter that threaten public health. Where air
quality exceeds a health-based standard, the Clean Air Act requires the area to
be designated as a nonattainment area for that pollutant.
Particulate
matter is a serious threat to human health. Major concerns include effects on
breathing and respiratory systems, damage to lung tissue and premature death.
The elderly, children, and people with chronic lung disease or asthma are
especially vulnerable.
The
Clean Air Act requires the state to submit a plan containing measures that will
reduce airborne particulate matter until the area meets the federal air quality
standard. The plan is due within 18 months. EPA is working closely with the
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on the plan and expects a submission
soon.
The
primary causes of dust pollution in the Pinal County area are from roads,
agriculture, feedlots, construction and industrial processes.
Particulate
matter is the term for solid or liquid particles found in the air. Some
particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so
small they can be detected only with an electron microscope. In 1987, EPA
replaced the earlier air quality standard with a PM10 standard. The
new standard focused on smaller particles that are likely responsible for
adverse health effects because of their ability to reach the lower regions of
the respiratory tract and includes particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers
or less (0.0004 inches or one-seventh the width of a human hair).
For more
information including a link to a map of the nonattainment area, please visit:
Monday, May 21, 2012
EPA to Hold Public Hearings in Washington, D.C. and Chicago on Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants
News release:
Contact Information: EPA Headquarters Cathy Milbourn milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849 202-564-4355 EPA Region 5 Phillippa Cannon Cannon.phillippa@epa.gov 312-353-6218
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold two public hearings on May 24, 2012, on the proposed carbon pollution standard for new power plants. The proposed standard, which only applies to power plants built in the future, is flexible and would help minimize carbon pollution through the deployment of the same types of modern technologies and steps that power companies are already taking to build the next generation of power plants. Currently, there is no uniform national limit on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit.
WHO: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
WHAT: Public hearings on proposed carbon pollution standard for new power plantsWHEN: May 24, 2012
The hearings will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and Central Daylight Time according to the location.WHERE: May 24: Washington, DC
Ariel Rios East Building
Room 1153
1301 Constitution Avenue
Washington, DC 20460May 24: Chicago, Ill.
Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building
Lake Michigan Room (12th floor)
77 West Jackson
Chicago, Ill. 60604
Please bring picture identification and allow additional time to enter the buildings and go through security. Pre-registration for the hearings has closed. The public may register to speak in person on the day of the hearing and will be accommodated as time allows. EPA also will accept written comments on the proposed standards until June 25, 2012.
More information on the hearings and instructions for submitting written comments: http://epa.gov/carbonpollutionstandard
EPA to Hold Public Hearings in Washington, D.C. and Chicago on Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants
Release Date: 05/21/2012Contact Information: EPA Headquarters Cathy Milbourn milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849 202-564-4355 EPA Region 5 Phillippa Cannon Cannon.phillippa@epa.gov 312-353-6218
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold two public hearings on May 24, 2012, on the proposed carbon pollution standard for new power plants. The proposed standard, which only applies to power plants built in the future, is flexible and would help minimize carbon pollution through the deployment of the same types of modern technologies and steps that power companies are already taking to build the next generation of power plants. Currently, there is no uniform national limit on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit.
WHO: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
WHAT: Public hearings on proposed carbon pollution standard for new power plantsWHEN: May 24, 2012
The hearings will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and Central Daylight Time according to the location.WHERE: May 24: Washington, DC
Ariel Rios East Building
Room 1153
1301 Constitution Avenue
Washington, DC 20460May 24: Chicago, Ill.
Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building
Lake Michigan Room (12th floor)
77 West Jackson
Chicago, Ill. 60604
Please bring picture identification and allow additional time to enter the buildings and go through security. Pre-registration for the hearings has closed. The public may register to speak in person on the day of the hearing and will be accommodated as time allows. EPA also will accept written comments on the proposed standards until June 25, 2012.
More information on the hearings and instructions for submitting written comments: http://epa.gov/carbonpollutionstandard
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
EPA Proposes First Carbon Pollution Standard for Future Power Plants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:March 27, 2012
EPA Proposes First Carbon Pollution Standard for Future Power Plants
Achievable standard is in line with investments already being made and will inform the building of new plants moving forward
WASHINGTON – Following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the first Clean Air Act standard for carbon pollution from new power plants. EPA’s proposed standard reflects the ongoing trend in the power sector to build cleaner plants that take advantage of American-made technologies, including new, clean-burning, efficient natural gas generation, which is already the technology of choice for new and planned power plants. At the same time, the rule creates a path forward for new technologies to be deployed at future facilities that will allow companies to burn coal, while emitting less carbon pollution. The rulemaking proposed today only concerns new generating units that will be built in the future, and does not apply to existing units already operating or units that will start construction over the next 12 months.
“Today we’re taking a common-sense step to reduce pollution in our air, protect the planet for our children, and move us into a new era of American energy,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Right now there are no limits to the amount of carbon pollution that future power plants will be able to put into our skies – and the health and economic threats of a changing climate continue to grow. We’re putting in place a standard that relies on the use of clean, American made technology to tackle a challenge that we can’t leave to our kids and grandkids.”
Currently, there is no uniform national limit on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit. As a direct result of the Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling, EPA in 2009 determined that greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans’ health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes in our climate that can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment.
The proposed standard, which only applies to power plants built in the future, is flexible and would help minimize carbon pollution through the deployment of the same types of modern technologies and steps that power companies are already taking to build the next generation of power plants. EPA’s proposal is in line with these investments and will ensure that this progress toward a cleaner, safer and more modern power sector continues. The proposed standards can be met by a range of power facilities burning different fossil fuels, including natural gas technologies that are already widespread, as well as coal with technologies to reduce carbon emissions. Even without today’s action, the power plants that are currently projected to be built going forward would already comply with the standard. As a result, EPA does not project additional cost for industry to comply with this standard.
Prior to developing this standard, EPA engaged in an extensive and open public process to gather the latest information to aid in developing a carbon pollution standard for new power plants. The agency is seeking additional comment and information, including public hearings, and will take that input fully into account as it completes the rulemaking process. EPA’s comment period will be open for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
More information: http://epa.gov/carbonpollutionstandard/
R045
EPA Proposes First Carbon Pollution Standard for Future Power Plants
Achievable standard is in line with investments already being made and will inform the building of new plants moving forward
WASHINGTON – Following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the first Clean Air Act standard for carbon pollution from new power plants. EPA’s proposed standard reflects the ongoing trend in the power sector to build cleaner plants that take advantage of American-made technologies, including new, clean-burning, efficient natural gas generation, which is already the technology of choice for new and planned power plants. At the same time, the rule creates a path forward for new technologies to be deployed at future facilities that will allow companies to burn coal, while emitting less carbon pollution. The rulemaking proposed today only concerns new generating units that will be built in the future, and does not apply to existing units already operating or units that will start construction over the next 12 months.
“Today we’re taking a common-sense step to reduce pollution in our air, protect the planet for our children, and move us into a new era of American energy,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Right now there are no limits to the amount of carbon pollution that future power plants will be able to put into our skies – and the health and economic threats of a changing climate continue to grow. We’re putting in place a standard that relies on the use of clean, American made technology to tackle a challenge that we can’t leave to our kids and grandkids.”
Currently, there is no uniform national limit on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit. As a direct result of the Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling, EPA in 2009 determined that greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans’ health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes in our climate that can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment.
The proposed standard, which only applies to power plants built in the future, is flexible and would help minimize carbon pollution through the deployment of the same types of modern technologies and steps that power companies are already taking to build the next generation of power plants. EPA’s proposal is in line with these investments and will ensure that this progress toward a cleaner, safer and more modern power sector continues. The proposed standards can be met by a range of power facilities burning different fossil fuels, including natural gas technologies that are already widespread, as well as coal with technologies to reduce carbon emissions. Even without today’s action, the power plants that are currently projected to be built going forward would already comply with the standard. As a result, EPA does not project additional cost for industry to comply with this standard.
Prior to developing this standard, EPA engaged in an extensive and open public process to gather the latest information to aid in developing a carbon pollution standard for new power plants. The agency is seeking additional comment and information, including public hearings, and will take that input fully into account as it completes the rulemaking process. EPA’s comment period will be open for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
More information: http://epa.gov/carbonpollutionstandard/
R045
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