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Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Cecilia Ho Office of Natural and Human Environment Environmental Conference Washington DC June 2008. Revised Air Quality Standards. 8-hour Ozone Standard (March 2008; May 2008 eff.) Lowered to 0.075 ppm (from 0.08 ppm)

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Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

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  1. Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Cecilia Ho Office of Natural and Human Environment Environmental Conference Washington DC June 2008

  2. Revised Air Quality Standards • 8-hour Ozone Standard (March 2008; May 2008 eff.) • Lowered to 0.075 ppm (from 0.08 ppm) • PM-2.5 Standard • Annual standard retained at 15 mg/m3 • Lowered daily standard to 35 mg/m3 (65 mg/m3) • PM-10 Standard (Sept 2006; Dec 2006 eff.) • Annual standard revoked • Daily standard retained at 150 mg/m3

  3. EPA’s Preliminary Implementation Timeline

  4. Revised NAAQS Implications • Conformity Applies 1-Year After Effective Date of Designations • PM2.5 ~ March 2010 • 8-hour ozone ~June 2011 [Until EPA revokes the “old” standards, they are still officially in effect.] • NEPA • EPA guidance on PM2.5 standards issued on June 25, 2007

  5. Other NAAQS • Lead NAAQS • EPA proposes to lower the standards to within a range of 0.1 and 03 mg/m3 (from the existing 1.5 mg/m3) • Final rule expected in Sept. 2008 • May not have direct impacts on highway projects but may impact projects that are subject to general conformity (e.g., intermodal facilities) • Others : CO, NO2, and PM.

  6. What are the issues? • Transition from the old to the revised (new standards) • Depends on whether the “old” standards will be retained or revoked • Possible impacts on conformity and NEPA • Anticipation of another round of conformity rule amendments

  7. How can we assist and prepare State DOTs and MPOs? • Provide information/update • Encourage them to work with air agencies on designations • Establish interagency consultation (especially for new nonattainment areas) • Educate new areas on potentially new air quality analysis (both for conformity and NEPA) • Provide information on flexibility • Ozone flex program available • Identify training needs

  8. Upcoming Issues • REAUTHORIZATION OF SAFETEA-LU!! • Possible conformity rule amendments • New emissions model (MOVES) expected in 2009 • New project level hot-spot analysis guidance

  9. Questions??

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