COMMENTS SOUGHT ON EPA NONATTAINMENT RECOMMENDATION FOR MUSCATINE COUNTY 

 

The Iowa DNR is asking for comments from residents and businesses on a
federal recommendation that Muscatine County be designated in
"nonattainment" of national air quality standards for sulfur dioxide. 

 

The recommendation comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after
considering monitoring data from Musser Park in Muscatine. Data were
collected for one-hour periods from 2008 through 2010, and more recently
from 2009 through 2011. Analysis of the measurements show that the one-hour
sulfur dioxide limit established under the national ambient air quality
standard was violated.. 

 

The one-hour sulfur dioxide standard is set at 75 parts per billion, a level
designed to protect against short-term exposures. Science indicates that
short-term exposures to sulfur dioxide are of greater concern than
previously believed. Those most sensitive are individuals with asthma,
bronchitis, emphysema or other lung and heart diseases, as well as children
and the elderly.

 

Existing sources in the nonattainment area that emit sulfur dioxide may be
required to reduce their emissions. New sources that emit sulfur dioxide
above certain levels in the nonattainment area will be required to be
constructed with air pollution controls that result in the lowest sulfur
dioxide emissions technically feasible.  

 

The EPA has given the DNR until April 8 this year to provide additional
information to EPA before EPA finalizes the nonattainment recommendation. 

 

The DNR asks county residents and businesses to send comments and technical
input on the recommendation to DNR by March 15. The technical input should
inform and provide support for comments and possible alternative
nonattainment area recommendations provided to the DNR. DNR will consider
the comments before submitting a response to EPA. 

 

Comments can be sent to Jim McGraw at the DNR Air Quality Building, 7900
Hickman Road, Suite 1, Windsor Heights, IA 50324, or, by email to
[log in to unmask] Call 515-242-5167 for more information.

 

The EPA is also seeking comments on the preliminary recommendation and plans
to publish a notice in the Federal Register to announce a 30-day comment
period. The DNR encourages county residents and businesses to send comments
to both agencies. 

 

EPA plans to finalize the nonattainment designation by June 2013, after
extending the deadline for one year because the agency lacked sufficient
information to make the designation.

 

The EPA strengthened the health-based or primary standard for sulfur dioxide
one-hour average concentrations to 75 parts per billion on June 3, 2010.
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has two years to complete the initial
designations process after launching a new or revised standard. 

 

Find additional technical background regarding EPA's recommendation at
www.epa.gov/so2designations/region7r.html.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Jim McGraw at 515-242-5167 or Jim.McGraw@dnr..iowa.gov
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> . 

 


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