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EPA Readies New NAAQS for Ozone

Posted on 11/24/2014 by Roger Marks

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under court order to produce a new Clean Air Act (CAA) standard for ozone before 2015, recently sent its proposed standard to the White House for approval.

For manufacturers and industrial facilities, a lower threshold for ozone could mean a shift from “attainment” of the current standard to “non-attainment” status under the new standard. “Non-attainment” regions are those where the volume of a given pollutant in the air exceeds EPA’s allowable limit. In these areas, businesses are subject to more stringent pollution control, reporting, and permitting requirements.

Understanding EPA’s Air Standards

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets protective standards known as National Ambient Air Quality Standards or NAAQS for ozone and five other “criteria pollutants”: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. EPA last lowered its NAAQS for ozone in 2008. Science advisors are now encouraging the EPA to reduce the ozone standard further.

Business groups say new ozone rules may be the most expensive compliance regulation in history, potentially costing businesses $270 billion per year. 

New Clean Air Act Regulations Now Available

A new online course is now available to help environmental engineers, EHS managers, and compliance officers keep their facilities in compliance with the US EPA’s Clean Air Act programs. The Clean Air Act Regulations guides professionals through compliance with Title V permit requirements, emissions and pollution controls, annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, Risk Management Planning (RMP) responsibilities, and more. 

Build the expertise needed to make informed on-the-job decisions that help your site control pollution and maintain compliance. Interactive, easy to use, and available 24/7, the new online course will help you get up to speed with new and changing EPA clean air rules and protect your facility from costly EPA enforcement. 

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, EPA, new rules

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