Advanced BioFuels USA

by Emily Holden   (The Guardian)  EPA chief Wheeler says current soot regulations are adequate despite research that shows stricter rules could save thousands of lives — Under the current standard, which was set in 2012, polluters can emit enough soot to measure 12 micrograms per cubic meter. Strengthening the standards to 11 micrograms could save about 12,000 lives per year, according to one Harvard study of US seniors.

Other research, noted in the government’s own analysis, found that maintaining the soot standard at its current level could allow as many as 52,000 deaths a year in just 47 urban areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency is now proposing to to freeze the standards.

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The agency is also retaining its current standard for coarse particle pollution.

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The US government is required to consider new science in evaluating whether air pollution rules are strong enough every five years.

Wheeler disbanded the 26-member expert panel meant to review that research, appointing a smaller committee with less specific expertise in the pollutant to provide advice to the agency. Wheeler populated the committee with scientists from state-level agencies and industry – arguing they had long been underrepresented.

EPA career staff have raised questions about whether the soot standard is protective enough, conflicting with the independent panel.  READ MORE

What They Are Saying: EPA Proposes to Retain NAAQS for Particulate Matter (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Proposal to Retain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (PM) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

EPA Proposes to Retain NAAQS for Particulate Matter (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

EPA Refuses to Tighten Air Quality Standard, Overruling Agency Scientists’ Recommendation (Our Daily Planet)

EPA will hold a virtual public hearing May 20-21 on its proposal to retain the national particulate matter air quality standards without revision.  (Politico’s Morning Energy)

Excerpt from US Environmental Protection Agency: You may submit comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072, by any of the following means:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method). Follow
the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov. Include the Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072
in the subject line of the message.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. for this notice.
Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.  READ MORE

Public Hearing for the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that a virtual public hearing will be held for the proposed action titled, “Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter,” which was signed on April 14, 2020. The hearing will be held May 20 and 21, 2020. Based on its review of the air quality criteria and the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), the EPA is proposing to retain both the primary and secondary PM standards, without revision.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed action must be received on or before June 29, 2020. The EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on May 20 and 21, 2020. Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional information on the public hearing.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/​ (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov. Include the Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072 in the subject line of the message.   READ MORE