EPA Issues Preliminary Designations for Fine Particulate Standards

The U.S. EPA has completed their preliminary analysis of available ambient fine particulate (PM 2.5) emissions data from across the U.S. and issued preliminary designations of counties that do not currently comply with EPA's 8-hour PM 2.5 air quality standards. Preliminary EPA non-compliance designations have been assigned to 243 counties in 22 states (a total estimated population of 99 million) with almost all of these counties located in the eastern one-third of the U.S. (mostly around major metropolitan areas) and in California. Non-compliance areas will need to file implementation plans with EPA to indicate their strategies for reaching compliance with the PM 2.5 ambient air quality standard by 2010. EPA first issued their PM 2.5 ambient standard in 1997 but implementation of this rule was delayed by a lengthy litigation process that was finally resolved in 2002. Final non-compliance designations will be issued in November 2004 after states and tribes have had an opportunity to comment on the preliminary EPA proposals. Additional information on EPA's preliminary PM 2.5 designations are available at: www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/.