Today EPA announced the first proposed change to the nation’s sulfur dioxide (SO2) national ambient air quality standards since 1971. EPA proposed a new short-term standard that limits one-hour levels of SO2.
If the new standards are adopted for SO2 the following counties would be in non-attainment:
Clinton
Scott
Muscatine
Linn
Van Buren
According to EPA’s analysis, 107 counties would currently be in violation of the most protective level proposed (50 ppb). That includes counties in these states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii (the volcanoes are a unique problem), Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico (San Juan), New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas. Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. See this list for a complete county-by-county listing. Note that this is based on the most current data, for 2006-2008 and the final designations would be based on 2009-2011 data. Note also that on the map of the projected 2020 levels, EPA has stated that they based their projections on CAIR reductions and the “proposed” locomotive and diesel rules. This may be language from an old footnote, so it would be helpful to clarify tomorrow what they used to make these projections.
EPA will accept public comment on this proposed rule until about the end of January, 60 days after this proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. There will be one public hearing on this proposal, in Atlanta, GA on January 5th.
Janice E. Nolen
Assistant Vice President
National Policy and Advocacy
American Lung Association
1301 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004-1725
P 202-785-3355
C 202-486-0285
F 202-452-1805
