## Particulate Matter (PM)

Regulatory Actions Related to PM

Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) •

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) •

Clean Diesel • 

# Regulatory Actions

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Adob e PDF files on this page. See EPA's PDF page for mo re information about getting and using the free Acroba t Reader.

DC Circuit Court Decision on Fine Particle National Ambient Air Quality Standards Implementation Rule and New Source Review/Preventio n of Significant Deterioration Permitting Rule

Summary of January 4, 2013 Court Decision (PDF) (2pp, 212k) •
EPA Revises the National Ambient Air Quality Standa rds for Particle Pollution December 14, 2012 - The U.S. Environmental Protecti on Agency took important steps to protect the health of Americans from particle pollu tion by strengthening the annual health National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine part icles (PM 2.5 ) to 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m 3 ). The agency also retained the existing standards for coarse particle pollution (PM 10 ).

Final Rule (PDF) (203pp, 4.1 MB) - Federal Register - January 15, 2013 • Press release • Overview Fact Sheet (PDF) (3pp, 301k) • Fact Sheet: Health (PDF) (3pp, 318k) • Fact Sheet: Standards and Air Quality Index (PDF) (5pp, 380k) • Fact Sheet: Implementing the Standards (PDF) (4pp, 287k) • Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (474pp, 10.2 MB) •
Tables and Maps

Maps: • EPA Projections Show 99 percent of U.S. Counties Wi th Monitors Would Meet the Annual Fine Particle Hea lth Standard of 12.0 μg/m 3 in 2020 (PDF) (1pg, 206k) ◦
Most Of The U.S. Already Meets the Annual Fine Part icle Health Standard of 12.0 μg/m 3 (PDF) (1pg, 147k) ◦ Tables: • Projected Fine Particle Concentrations in 2020 for Counties with Monitors (PDF) (13pp, 69k) ◦ Fine Particle Concentrations Based on Monitored Air Quality 2009 - 2011 (PDF) (13pp, 64k) ◦
EPA Announces Two Public Hearings on Proposed Revis ions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particle Pollution June 28, 2012 - EPA will hold two public hearings o n the proposed revisions to the National Ambient Ai r Quality Standards for particle pollution.

One hearing will be held on July 17, 2012, in Phila delphia, Pennsylvania, at: William J. Green Federal Building 600 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 215-813-2583

List of Registered Speakers for July 17, 2012, Phil adelphia Public Hearing (PDF) (3 pp, 120k) •
The other hearing will be held on July 19, 2012, in Sacramento, California, at: California Air Resources Board1001 "I" Street

Sacramento, CA 95814 916-322-2990

List of Registered Speakers for July 19, 2012, Sacr amento Public Hearing (PDF) (2 pp, 48k) •
Announcement (PDF) (2 pp, 181k) - Federal Register - July 2, 2012 • Issues on which EPA is specifically requesting comm ent (5pp, 140k) •
EPA Proposes to Revise the National Ambient Air Qua lity Standards for Particle Pollution June 14, 2012 - The Environmental Protection Agencyis proposing revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particle pollution. These revisions would strengthen the ann ual "primary" fine particle standard to protect pub lic health and would establish a separate "secondary" fine particle standard to prot ect visibility in urban areas.

Proposed Rule (PDF) (167pp, 2.2 MB) - Federal Register - June 29, 2012 • Correction Notice (PDF) (2pp, 244k) - Federal Register - June 29, 2012 ◦ Overview Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 307k) • Fact Sheet: Health (PDF) (2pp, 291k) • Fact Sheet: Standards and Air Quality Index (PDF) (5pp, 400k) • Fact Sheet: Implementing the Standards (PDF) (4pp, 347k) • How to Comment (PDF) (2pp, 313k) • Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (522pp, 4.2 MB) - June 29, 2012 • Tables and Maps • Maps: ◦ EPA Projections Show Virtually All Counties Would M eet the Proposed Primary Fine Particle Standards in 2020 (PDF) (1pg, 462k) ◦
Monitoring Data Show Few Additional Counties Would Not Meet Proposed Primary Fine Particle Standards ( PDF) (1pg, 425k) ◦
Monitoring Data Show Few Counties Would Not Meet Pr oposed Secondary Fine Particle Standards (PDF) (1pg, 361k) ◦ EPA Projections Show Virtually All Counties Would M eet the Proposed Secondary Fine Particle Standards in 2020 (PDF) (1pg, 400k) ◦

Tables: ◦ Projected Fine Particle Concentrations in 2020 for Counties with Monitors (PDF) (13pp, 99k) ◦ Fine Particle Concentrations Based on Monitored Air Quality 2008 - 2010 (PDF) (12pp, 31k) ◦ Visibility Index Based on Monitored Air Quality fro m 2008 - 2010 (PDF) (6pp, 21k) ◦ Projected Visibility Index in 2020 for Counties wit h Monitors (PDF) (5pp, 21k) ◦ Technical Support Documents • EPA’s Policy Assessment for the PM NAAQS Review ◦ EPA’s Risk and Exposure Assessment for the PM NAAQS Review ◦ EPA’s Science Assessment ◦ Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Rev iew ◦ Additional information for the PM NAAQS review ◦
EPA responds to Senators' questions about the statu s of the current PM NAAQS review October 14, 2011 – In the letter, the Administrator states that she is prepared to propose the retenti on - with no revision - of the current PM 10 standard and form when it is sent to OMB for interagency review.

Letter to Senator Klobuchar (PDF) (1pp, 61k) • Letter to Senator Stabenow (PDF) (1pp, 61k) •
EPA Makes Findings of Failure to Submit Infrastruct ure State Implementation Plans (SIPs) - 2006 PM2.5 Standard August 31, 2011 - EPA issued findings that 6 states , Washington DC and Puerto Rico missed Clean Air Ac t deadlines for submitting plans, or elements of plans, for implementing EPA's national air quality standards for the 2006 PM2.5.

Fact Sheet (PDF) (3pp, 50k) •Federal Register Notice (PDF) (15pp, 46k)

•
EPA Makes Findings of Failure to Submit State Imple mentation Plans (SIPs) - 2006 PM2.5 Standard May 28, 2010 - EPA issued findings that 29 states m issed Clean Air Act deadlines for submitting plans, or elements of plans, for implementing EPA's national air quality standards for the 2006 PM2.5.

Fact Sheet (PDF) (2pp, 24k) • Federal Register Notice (PDF) (18pp, 38k) •
EPA Makes Findings of Failure to Submit State Imple mentation Plans (SIPs) - 1997 PM2.5 Standard November 19, 2009 - EPA issued findings that 3 stat es missed Clean Air Act deadlines for submitting pl ans, or elements of plans, for implementing EPAs national air quality standards fo r the 1997 PM2.5.

Fact Sheet • Federal Register Notice (PDF) (15pp, 165k) •
EPA determines PM2.5 nonattainment areas have air q uality that attains the level of the 1997 PM2.5 NAA QS November 18, 2009 -- Several PM2.5 nonattainment ar eas currently have air quality that attains the lev el of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA identifies these areas through clean data deter minations published in the Federal Register. The cl ean data determination notices explains that certain SIP requirements are suspende d by the published clean air determination for thes e areas.

Fact Sheet • EPA signed a final rulemaking notice (PDF) (20pp, 453k) determining that the Martinsburg-Hagerstown, WV-MD nonattainment area, the Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH nonattainment area, and the Wheeling, WV-OH nonattainment area h ave attained the level of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. •

EPA signed a final rulemaking notice (PDF) (32pp, 804k) determining that the Chicago, IL-IN nonattainment area and the Evansville, IN nonattainment area have attained the level of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. •

EPA Proposes Revisions Air Quality Index Reporting and Significant Harm Level for Particle Pollution January 15, 2009 -- EPA is seeking comments on a pr oposal to revise the Agencys Air Quality Index (AQI ) states use to report daily concentrations for fine particle pollution, also kn own as PM2.5. The proposal also would set a signifi cant harm level for PM 2.5, which states use in developing emergency episode plans. E PA will hold a public hearing March 5, 2009 in in t he Dallas area.

Proposed Rule (PDF) (39pp, 167k) • Fact Sheet and Public Hearing Information (PDF) (4pp, 55k) •
EPA Makes Findings of Failure to Submit State Imple mentation Plans (SIPs) -- 1997 Fine Particle Pollut ion (PM2.5) Standard October 3, 2008 - EPA issued findings that 21 state s and territories missed Clean Air Act deadlines fo r submitting plans, or elements of plans, for implementing EPA’s 1997 national air quality standards for particle pollution. The notic e also identifies 35 states who have submitted complete SIPs.

Fact Sheet • Federal Register Notice, Oct 22, 2008 (PDF) (5pp, 188k) •
Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule Will He lp States Control Fine Particle Air Pollution March 29, 2007 - EPA finalizes Clean Air Fine Parti cle Implementation Rule defining requirements for s tate plans to meet the 1997 national air quality standards for fine particle po llution.

Fact Sheet • Federal Register Notice, April 25, 2007 (PDF) (82pp, 572k) • PM2.5 Nonattainment Area Designations •
EPA Completes Benefits and Costs Analysis of Nation al Air Quality Standards for Particle Pollution October 6, 2006 - EPA has completed its benefits an d costs analysis of the national air quality standa rds for particle pollution, whichEPA strengthened on Sept. 21, 2006. This regulatoryimpact analysis is designed to inform the public a nd states about the potential

costs and benefits of implementing these important air quality standards. It is not a part of the stan dard selection process.

Fact Sheet • Read the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) • Federal Register Notice Announcing Availability of RIA (PDF) (2pp, 181k) •

EPA Finalizes Amendments to its National Air Qualit y Monitoring Requirements September 28, 2006 - EPA has finalized amendments t o its national air quality monitoring requirements, including those for monitoring particle pollution.

Final Rule (PDF) (94pp, 709k) • Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 42k) • Presentation (PDF) (11pp, 494k) •
EPA Strengthens National Ambient Air Quality Standa rds for Particle Pollution. September 21, 2006 - Today the U.S. Environmental P rotection Agency issued the strongest national air quality standards for particle pollution in our country’s history.

Federal Register Notice, October 17, 2006 (PDF) (90 pp, 802 KB) • Fact Sheet (PDF) (8 pp, 63 KB) • Presentation • Text Slides (02/14/07) (PDF) (21 pp, 246 KB) ◦ Graph and Maps (10/25/06) (PDF) (10 pp, 1.2 MB) ◦

EPA's Provisional Assessment of Recent Studies on H ealth Effects of Particulate Matter Exposure Availa ble July 20, 2006 - In order to ensure that the EPA Adm inistrator is fully aware of the new science before making a final decision on whether to revise or retain the current National Am bient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter, EPA conducted a survey and provisional assessment of relevant new studies. Thi s final report is the result of that effort.

Provisional Assessment of Recent Studies on Health Effects of Particulate Matter Exposure (PDF) (206 pp, 1.1 MB) •

Direct Final Fine Particle Pollution De Minimis Emi ssion Levels for General Conformity Applicability March 31, 2006 - EPA established “de minimis” emiss ion levels for fine particle pollution. These emiss ions thresholds will be used to determine whether requirements would apply under EP A’s General Conformity rules.

Direct Final Rule (PDF) (7 pp, 207 KB) • Parallel Proposal (PDF) (4 pp, 189 KB) • Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 24 KB) • Interim Policy for General Conformity Applicability in PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas (PDF) (2 pp, 73 KB) (applies until EPA establishes final de minimis thresholds for PM2.5) •

EPA Extends Public Comment on Implementing Proposed Particle Standards March 29, 2006 - EPA is announcing a 90-day extensi on to the public comment period for its advanced no tice of proposed rule making on how best to implement any new standards that mayresult from the recently proposed revisions to the particulate matter air quality standards. The public comment period will now end o n July 10, 2006, rather than on April 10, 2006.

Extension Notice (PDF) (8pp, 207 KB) •
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Implementing Proposed P article Standards February 3, 2006 - EPA is seeking public comment on how best to implement any new standards that may r esult from the recently proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Qual ity Standards for particulate matter (PM). This act ion will assure the public that EPA is aware of and is considering the multiple iss ues associated with implementing any revised or new particulate matter standards.

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF) (12 pp, 242 KB) •Fact Sheet

• How to Comment •
EPA Proposes to Revise the National Ambient Air Qua lity Standards for Particle Pollution December 20, 2005 - The Environmental Protection Ag ency has proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particle pollution. The proposed revisions would st rengthen a fine particle standard, and would improv e and refocus the coarse particle standards on those particles that are associated wi th public health concerns. EPA will accept comments for 90 days after the publication of the proposal in the Federal Register

.
Proposed Rule (PDF) (90 pp, 1.5 MB) • Fact Sheet • Press Release • How to Comment • Transcript of EPA conference call, December 20, 200 5 (PDF) (16 pp, 197 KB) • Presentation: Proposal to Revise National Ambient A ir Quality Standards for Particle Pollution • Text Slides (PDF) (20 pp, 266 KB) updated 03/02/2006 ◦ Table and Maps (PDF) (4 pp, 743 KB) updated 12/27/2005 ◦ Modeled Estimates for the Year 2010 (PDF) (5 pp, 993 KB) ◦ Modeled Estimates for the Year 2015 (PDF) (4 pp, 973 KB) ◦ Table: PM 2.5 Annual and Daily Design Values for Counties with M onitors 1999-2003 Baseline Values vs. Projected Values in 2010 and 2015 (PDF) (16 pp, 33 KB) ◦
Methods for Projecting Air Quality Concentrations for Evaluating Alternative PM 2.5 Standards (PDF) (3 pp, 20 KB) ◦ PM 10 Maps (PDF) (3 pp, 1.7 MB) ◦ Technical Support Documents • Interim Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) for the Pr oposed National Ambient Air Quality Standards for P articulate Matter ◦ Executive Summary (PDF) (14 pp, 536 KB) ◦ Chapter 1: Overview of this Regulatory Impact Analy sis (PDF) (5 pp, 57 KB) ◦ Chapter 2: Scope and Magnitude of the Problem (PDF) (32 pp, 3.1 MB) ◦ Chapter 3: Analysis Methodology and Summary Results (PDF) (26 pp, 384 KB) ◦ Appendix A: Five City Analysis Results (PDF) (109 pp, 657 KB) ◦ Appendix B: AERMOD Local-Scale Analysis (PDF) (36 pp, 1.1 MB) ◦ Appendix C: AirControlNET Controls Database (PDF) (55 pp, 453 KB) ◦ Appendix D: Additional Cost Data (PDF) (15 pp, 29 KB) ◦ Appendix E: Methods for Projecting Air Quality Conc entrations (PDF) (3 pp, 34 KB) ◦ Memorandum: Basis for proposed determinations regar ding retention of 24-hour PM 10 standard (PDF) (7 pp, 212 KB) ◦ White Paper: Preliminary Analyses of Proposed PM 2.5 NAAQS Alternatives (PDF) (24 pp, 2.8 MB) ◦ EPA Criteria Document ◦ EPA Staff Paper ◦ Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee comments on the EPA Criteria Document and Staff Paper ◦
EPA Proposes Amendments to its National Air Quality Monitoring Requirements December 20, 2005 - In a separate but related actio n, EPA has proposed amendments to its national air quality monitoring requirements, including those for monitoring partic le pollution. The proposed changes include the desi gn of a network to monitor PM10 -2.5. EPA will accept comments for 90 days after th e publication of the proposal in the Federal Regist er.
Proposed Rule (PDF) (100 pp, 3.78 MB) • Fact Sheet • How to Comment • Technical Support Documents: • DRAFT National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy (PDF ) (125 pp, 1.4 MB) ◦ Spreadsheet Showing Areas Where PM10-2.5 Monitors W ould be Required (PDF) (11 pp, 292 KB) updated 02/10/06 ◦ Clean Air Science Advisory Council review of the PM 10-2.5 federal reference method (PDF) (121 pp, 2 MB) ◦ Maps supporting proposed PM10-2.5 monitoring requir ements (PDF) (8 pp, 397 KB) ◦ Creation of PM10-2.5 Database in Support of NAAQS & Monitoring Rule Proposals (PDF) (4 pp, 607 KB) ◦Last updated on Monday, March 18, 2013 http://www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution/act ions.html#dec12