It’s Official: EPA Determines Allegheny County Has Met National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide

Big news, folks: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday published notice of its approval of a request to designate Allegheny County as being in attainment for the 2010 one-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide.

Little background for yinz: The 2010 SO2 NAAQS is a one-hour average of 75 parts per billion. EPA’s approval is based on data from air quality monitors that demonstrate that all areas of Allegheny County attain the 2010 SO2 standard as well as its determination that the air pollution rules and regulations in effect are sufficient to ensure that it will continue to attain the standard going forward.

“Allegheny County’s long-awaited attainment of the 2010 SO2 standard has been the product of years of work by the Allegheny County Health Department and many other stakeholders,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “While we still have work to do when it comes to our local air quality, getting sulfur dioxide levels to comply with the standard and keeping them there is a big victory for public health.”