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EPARulemakingEPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072

Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

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Dec 19, 2024
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closed 1218d ago
League of Women Voters filings
4

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League of Women Voters filed 4 comments on this docket between Jun 22, 2020 and Apr 3, 2023. 245 other organizations filed here. The comment window closed 1218d ago.

What League of Women Voters filed (4)

Apr 3, 2023· Comment submitted by Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action, Wisconsin Asthma Coalition, And League of Women Voters' of Beloit· EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072-2347

Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.

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Apr 3, 2023· Comment submitted by Beloit Wisconsin League of Women Voters· EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072-2117

COMMENT TO EPA FROM THE BOARD OF THE BELOIT LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072 The Beloit Wisconsin League of Women Voters supports the proposed EPA changes, and would encourage the EPA to consider adopting the even more stringent policy of the WHO of 5 μg/m3 annual and 15 μg/m3 per 24 hour periods. The EPA's FAQ sheet states, "The proposed revised standards could result in as many as 4,200 avoided premature deaths and 270,000 avoided lost workdays in 2032." Why stop at 9 μg/m3? Pages ES-17-ES-18, (Tables ES-6 and ES-7) of the EPA's Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Proposed Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter show the projected benefit of more stringent standards. Avoided premature deaths goes from 4,200 to 9,700, avoided lost workdays goes from 270,000 to 580,000, and the significant public health benefits valued at as much as $17 billion in 2032 for an annual standard level of 10 μg/m3 and as much as $43 billion in 2032 for an annual standard level of 9 μg/m3 goes to $95 billion at 8 μg/m3. The benefit in human and other forms of life as well as quality of life seem clear with more stringent standards. The cost savings in dollars is an added bonus. When it comes to breathing Particulate Matter there doesn't seem to be a "safe level." At the very least we urge you to set the annual level at 8 μg/m3, and to consider the WHO standards of 5 μg/m3 annual and 15 μg/m3 per 24 hour periods. From the Board of the Beloit League of Women Voters Bette Carr – Convenor Gayle Sullivan Hotchkiss – Treasurer Susan Adams - Advocacy Representative Submitted by Steve Howland, Board Member and Sustainability Committee

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Mar 8, 2023· Comment submitted by League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis· EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072-1893

For decades the EPA has protected the health of children, seniors and all the rest of us from dangerous pollutants through both the Clean Air Act. Significant improvements in Air Quality have been achieved, but further improvements are needed. The recent EPA revised air quality standards to protect the public from the harmful effects of soot must follow the independent scientific advisory committee recommendations and set the standard to protect those at risk. Air pollution has a disproportionate health burden on those living near polluting facilities and infrastructures such as power plants, factories, and roads. Shouldering the larger health burden are low income, minority, elderly, fixed income families and tribal communities. The current proposed regulations do not provide for public health and safety, and the proposed EPA limits are not as strong as the World Health Organization limits. The EPA must update and place a stricter more protective air quality standard that limits harmful effects of particulate matter pollution. In Saint Louis, particulate matter pollution must be reduced to address problems created by generations of environmental racism targeted at Black communities. Black children and adults have increased emergency room visits for asthma. The League of Women Voters of Metro Saint Louis (LWV Metro STL) would request that the US EPA revise the regulations. 1. The proposed revised regulation reduces the primary (health based) annual PM2.5 standard from its current level of 12 ug/m3 to a lower range of 9.0 to 10.0 ug/m3. The EPA indicated that this would prevent up to 4,200 premature deaths and 270,000 lost workdays by 2032. The LWV Metro STL would encourage the EPA lower the annual standard to 8 ug/m3, more lives will be saved with the reduced impact of particle pollution on community health. This is also the World Health Organization standard. 2. The EPA proposed not to change the current secondary (welfare based) annual PM2.5 standard, the primary and secondary the primary and secondary 24-hour PM2.5 standards nor the primary and secondary PM2.5. These standards must also be updated to follow the independent scientific advisory committee recommendations and set the regulations to protect those at risk. The LWV Metro STL urges the EPA to update all PM2.5 standards and protect the health of those most at risk. Improved air quality will save lives, decrease asthma, increase productivity, and have a positive impact on communities across the country. See attached file(s)

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Jun 22, 2020· Comment submitted by Nancy Miller and Louise Wilkerson, Co-Presidents, League of Women Voters (LWV) - Metro Saint Louis· EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0072-0667

For decades the EPA has protected the health of children, seniors and all the rest of us from dangerous pollutants through both the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Significant improvements in both Air Quality and Water Quality have been achieved. The recent proposal EPA's proposal that maintains an outdated standard for particulate matter pollution, a deadly air pollutant emitted by power plants, automobiles and factories. Particulate air pollution is harmful to human health and the environment. The EPA should withdraw this proposal and issue in its place an updated, stricter and more protective air quality standard that limits harmful particulate pollution and will save tens of thousands of lives. From detailed League study and strong League Natural Resource Positions, the League of Women Voters has been at the forefront of efforts to protect air, land, and water resources. The League of Women Voters has worked for effective regulatory programs since enactment of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. The League of Women Voters of Metro Saint Louis advocates for a strong environmental laws and program funding to prevent weakening of environmental legislation or underfunding of programs that would result in environmental impacts. The League of Women Voters of Metro STL appreciate the opportunity to comment on this proposal but are opposed to the EPA's decision to proceed with the hearing during a national health emergency. By issuing this proposal, the EPA is failing to take seriously the impact it will have on millions of Americans that are impacted by harmful air pollution and experiencing the respiratory virus pandemic. The EPA is not tightening the particulate pollution standard, especially as the growing evidence suggests that communities experiencing poor air quality are most at risk to death from Covid-19. Yet, even before Covid-19 spread to the U.S., the data clearly showed that our existing particulate pollution standards were not doing enough to protect our health. Instead of foregoing its responsibility and mission to protect the public's health and environment, the EPA should listen to its own scientific experts and strengthen these lifesaving and cost-effective protections. Now more than ever, it is critical to keep environmental rules in place that protect communities from the adverse health impacts of toxic pollution. The EPA should withdraw this proposal immediately and replace it with a more protective standard that limits harmful particulate pollution and provides a chance for the public to participate in this rulemaking when the crisis is over. Nancy Miller and Louise Wilkerson LWV Metro Saint Louis Co-Presidents

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Abstract

Based on EPA’s reconsideration of the air quality criteria and the NAAQS for particulate matter (PM), the EPA proposes to revise the primary annual PM2.5 standard by lowering the level. The Agency proposes to retain the current primary 24-hour PM2.5 standard and the primary 24-hour PM10 standard. The Agency also proposes not to change the secondary 24-hour PM2.5 standard, secondary annual PM2.5 standard, and secondary 24-hour PM10 standard at this time. The EPA also proposes revisions to other key aspects related to the PM NAAQS, including revisions to the Air Quality Index and monitoring requirements for PM NAAQS.

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Co-filers (245)

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