Air quality update

For Wire
Published on: November 13, 2008

By Mary Basballe
Air program manager

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to review its National Ambient Air Quality standards (NAAQS) every five years. In December 2006, EPA set a stricter daily standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). EPA strengthened the daily standard from 65 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) to 35 µg/m³. EPA based this change on the strength of evidence from various health studies that demonstrated the previous standard was not protective of human health.

PM2.5 comprised of small particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter is associated with a variety of health effects including:

• Premature death
• Increased heart attack risk
• Increased stroke risk
• Lung inflammation and stress, reduced lung function, and
• Asthma-like symptoms (or triggering asthma attacks).

When EPA promulgates a new NAAQS, EPA is required to designate all geographic areas within the United States as attainment, unclassifiable or non-attainment under Section 107 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). If an area does not meet the national standard for PM2.5, it will be designated as nonattainment. Under this process, states are required to submit recommendations for designation to EPA by Dec. 18, 2007.

On Aug. 18, 2008, the EPA sent out a letter to update the Puyallup Tribe on their intended designation for fine particle (PM2.5) standards for the Puyallup Tribe’s Reservation. EPA intends to designate as “non-attainment” at this time all restricted and trust lands within the Puyallup Reservation. This means that all areas across the reservation meet more protective, health-based fine particle standards. Areas that are designated as non-attainment will have to go through a planning process to implement measures to improve air quality.

The Puyallup Tribe Air Program plans to work closely with EPA, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the Department of Ecology in the planning process to improve air quality. We expect to begin this work shortly after final designations. EPA plans to make final designation decisions by Dec. 18, 2008. For additional information about PM2.5 and the designation process, please go to the EPA website at www.epa.gov/pmdesignations.

This is the first in a monthly series on air quality updates for the reservation.

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