THE HUNTER REPORT
Loudon County makes EPA Dirty Air List
By: Pat Hunter
On October 8, 2009 (Thursday) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated 120 counties in 31 areas and 18 states to be in non-attainment for fine particulate pollution.
Five Tennessee counties including Loudon, Knox, Blount, Anderson and part of Roane were named to the dirty unhealthy air list for not meeting fine particulate (PM 2.5) pollution and federal Clean Air Act standards. This information was based on 2006-2008 data. "Nonattainment areas include counties with monitors showing violations of the standards and the nearby areas that also contribute to that violation."
According to the EPA, "Fine particles can either be emitted directly from power plants, factories, and motor vehicles, particularly diesel trucks and buses, or they can form in the atmosphere from reactions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides." The health issues associated with this type of pollution are very serious and "can cause a number of serious health problems including aggravated asthma, increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, heart attacks and premature death."
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2009
EPA Lists Areas Violating Daily Air Pollution Requirements
31
locations not meeting 24-hour fine particle standards
WASHINGTON
– EPA is designating 31 areas across the country as not meeting the agency’s
daily standards for fine particle air pollution (PM 2.5), or particulate
matter. Particulate matter, which is emitted by power plants, factories and
motor vehicles, can cause a number of serious health problems including
aggravated asthma, increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits,
heart attacks and premature death. These areas, made up of 120 full or partial
counties, were designated as “nonattainment” because their 2006 to 2008 air
quality monitoring data showed that they did not meet the agency’s health-based
standards.
In December 2008, after closely
reviewing recommendations from states and tribes along with public comments, EPA
identified attainment and nonattainment areas based on air quality monitoring
data from 2005 through 2007. The December 2008 designations were never published
in the Federal Register and have been under review. Because the 2008 air quality
data is the most recent, EPA used this data to make final designations.
Using the 2006 to 2008 data, 91 U.S. counties that
were identified as nonattainment in December 2008 are now meeting the standards.
The new data also showed that four new counties in three states are
violating the daily PM 2.5 standards, the annual PM 2.5 standards, or both. EPA
will work with these four counties to evaluate air monitoring data and other
factors to make final designations by early 2010.
Nonattainment areas include counties with monitors showing violations of the
standards and the nearby areas that also contribute to that violation. Affected
states and tribes will be required to take steps to reduce the pollution that
forms fine particles. The majority of U.S. counties and tribal lands are meeting
these standards, but will need to continue working to maintain clean air.
In 2006, EPA strengthened the 24-hour fine particle standards from 65 micrograms
per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air to protect public
health. Nationwide, monitored levels of fine particle pollution fell 19 percent
from 2000 to 2008. Fine particles can either be emitted directly from power
plants, factories, and motor vehicles, particularly diesel trucks and buses, or
they can form in the atmosphere from reactions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides.
More information on the designations:
http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2006standards/index.htm
http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2006standards/documents/2009-10-08/finaltable.htm
10-11-09