EPA Proposes to Grant ACHD Request for Redesignation of Allegheny Co. to Attainment for National Standards for Fine Particulate Matter…in Part
- Group Against Smog & Pollution
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Just about a year ago we blogged about the Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) withdrawal of a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for it to designate the county as being in attainment for the 2012 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
Interestingly, ACHD made that request despite monitored air quality data that showed the county did in fact attain the NAAQS, purportedly “in part.”
Why? Here’s what ACHD wrote in its request:
As we blogged previously, the request would keep regulations aimed at reducing PM2.5 emissions from county sources in place.
And about the new PM2.5 NAAQS approved last year? It appears that Allegheny County will be designated as non-attainment for that standard, if EPA decides to keep it on the books.
An EPA notice published April 7 is moving to make it all official, proposing to grant ACHD’s request regarding the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS and also to redesignate the county from nonattainment to attainment of the 2006 NAAQS for PM2.5.
It also proposes to change the Liberty-Clairton area from nonattainment to attainment of the 1997 NAAQS for PM2.5
“For whatever it’s worth, EPA did not discuss the purported rationale behind ACHD’s request to let the nonattainment designation for the 2012 NAAQS for PM2.5 to stand,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie explained.
What happens next? EPA is accepting comments on ACHD’s requests regarding the redesignations (and non-redesignation) of the 1997, 2006, and 2012 NAAQS for PM2.5 through May 7.
You can submit your requests by email (to gordon.mike@epa.gov) or through www.regulations.gov, at this specific docket.
If you do submit comments, they should reference Docket ID No. EPA-R03-OAR-2024-0586.