US EPA strengthens air quality standards

12 March 2008 22:28  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday strengthened air quality standards amid protests from the US chemical industry that the measure was not needed.

The new standard is the most stringent ever for ozone and was the first revision in over a decade, the EPA said.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued a statement saying that the US chemical industry supports a National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone that is protective of public health and based on sound science.

However, the ACC said the previous 1997 ozone standard met that test, and that “there is no clear and substantial basis for making the standard stricter at this time”.

The new primary eight-hour standard is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) and the new secondary standard is set at a form and level identical to the primary standard.

“America’s air is cleaner today than it was a generation ago. By meeting the requirement of the Clean Air Act and strengthening the national standard for ozone, EPA is keeping our clean air progress moving forward,” EPA administrator Stephen Johnson said.

The previous primary and secondary standards were identical eight-hour standards, set at 0.08 ppm. Because ozone is measured out to three decimal places, the standard effectively became 0.084 ppm because of rounding, the EPA said.

“ACC member companies will continue to work towards improving air quality. Tremendous progress has already been made and EPA recently highlighted in its annual air quality trends report that the national average for ozone levels decreased by 21% between 1980 and 2006,” ACC senior vice president Tom Gibson said.

Since 1988, ACC member companies have reduced air toxic emissions by 78%, nitrogen oxide by 62%, sulphur dioxide by 27% and volatile organic compounds by 78%, the council said.

By: John Waggoner
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