ARA Co-Signed a Letter Urging the EPA to Maintain National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Fine Particulate Matter
Sep 07 2023
The business community has worked with EPA and its state partners to lower fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions by 42 percent since 20001 and is making significant progress even with the steady growth in the U.S. economy, population, and energy use.
The vast majority of PM2.5 emissions, more than 84 percent, now come from non-point sources2 such as fires and unpaved roads. Only 16 percent of PM2.5 emissions come from industrial sources and power plants that are already well controlled and are making further reductions.
Due to innovation and investment, new emissions control technologies and solutions have been widely adopted to improve air quality. Lowering the PM2.5 air quality standards through discretionary rulemaking endangers these investments and the associated good paying jobs.
ARA and other associations urge the EPA to maintain the current NAAQS for fine particulate matter. The current reconsideration is not required by the Clean Air Act as the existing standards were just reviewed in 2020.