Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Environmental Protection Agency 40 CFR Part 51 [EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0062; FRL-8295-2] RIN 2060-AK74 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final action provides rules and guidance on the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for State and Tribal plans to implement the 1997 fine particle (PM 2.5 ) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Fine particles and precursor pollutants are emitted by a wide range of sources, including power plants, cars, trucks, industrial sources, and other burning or combustion-related activities. Health effects that have been associated with exposure to PM 2.5 include premature death, aggravation of heart and lung disease, and asthma attacks. Those particularly sensitive to PM 2.5 exposure include older adults, people with heart and lung disease, and children. Air quality designations became effective on April 5, 2005 for 39 areas (with a total population of 90 million) that were not attaining the 1997 PM 2.5 standards. By April 5, 2008, each State having a nonattainment area must submit to EPA an attainment demonstration and adopted regulations ensuring that the area will attain the standards as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than 2015. This rule and preamble describe the requirements that States and Tribes must meet in their implementation plans for attainment of the 1997 fine particle NAAQS. (Note that this rule does not include final PM 2.5 requirements for the new source review (NSR) program; …