Air Quality Update
Fine Particulates Non-Attainment Designations
On December 17, 2004, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took final action to designate attainment areas under the fine particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In its final rule, EPA reconsidered its initial designations, and listed only three North Carolina counties, Davidson, Guilford and Catawba,
as non-attainment.
Nationwide EPA designated all or part of 224 counties, as well as the District of Columbia, as nonattainment - including over two-dozen counties in Georgia. States with non-attainment areas must submit plans by early 2008 that outline how they will
meet the PM2.5 standards. They are expected to attain clean air as soon as possible and not later than 2010. EPA can grant one five-year extension for areas with more severe problems. The attainment date for those areas would be 2015.
In the case of North Carolina, this was not exactly what the State had requested. In February 2004, North Carolina recommended that the EPA
designate all of Davidson County and part of Catawba County as non-attainment for particle pollution based on air quality monitoring, emissions data, transportation patterns, and other factors. The EPA indicated in June 2004 that it was considering broadening the PM non-attainment recommendations to include Davidson and Catawba as well as all of Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Stokes counties and parts of Burke and Caldwell counties.In letters dated Sept. 8 & 9, 2004, to EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt from Governor Mike Easley, and to EPA Regional Administrator Jimmy Palmer from DENR Secretary Bill Ross, North
Carolina formally asked EPA to reconsider its proposed PM2.5 designations.
EPA’s final Dec. 17 designation reduced the number of North Carolina counties classified as nonattainment from eight to three. The final EPA designation accepts North Carolina’s original
recommended designation of Davidson County and part of Catawba County, but adds the remainder of Catawba and all of Guilford County.
PM2.5 – approximately 1/30th the size of an average human hair – according to EPA, can aggravate heart and lung diseases and has been associated with a variety of serious health problems including heart attacks, chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks.
No counties were designated non-attainment for PM-2.5 in South Carolina. "The good news for 30
states is that they already meet the fine particle standards," Administrator Mike Leavitt said.
Need Help with Air Quality
Compliance?
CALL OMNI
800-951-7625
Continue to Page 3 |
