1. PM 2.5 Attainment Re-designation Approvals
EPA published Federal Register Notices Approving Attainment:
August 28th – for 2006 “Daily” PM2.5 Standard (Effective 9/27/17)
August 29th – for 1997 “Annual” PM2.5 Standard (Effective 8/29/17)
Completes a long process to meet attainment for these standards:
First designated nonattainment on April 5, 2005 for PM2.5 Annual Standard
Attainment based on “Clean” Data from
Re-designation Request formally submitted to EPA on 12/20/2016
Entire Knoxville Region is now in Attainment of all EPA Air Quality Standards for first time since June 15, 2004.

2. Some Benefits of Attainment Status
Most Obvious Benefit – Cleaner Air for better health and environment of the Region
Eliminates Stigma of Nonattainment Status for Recruiting New Industries to the Region
Reduces some requirements for environmental permitting such as New Source Review offsets
Still requires existing control technology to remain, i.e. “anti-backsliding”
Eliminates Transportation Conformity Requirement for the PM2.5 Annual Standard
Region is meeting the newer “2012 Annual Standard” therefore 1997 Standard has been revoked
Conformity still required as a “Maintenance Area” for the 2006 Daily Standard

3. Air Quality Improvements – Health Benefit
1999 – Total of 135 Ozone and PM2.5 Combined Exceedance Days
2015 – Total of 2 Ozone and PM2.5 Combined Exceedance Days

4. Sources of Air Quality Improvements
Population, Economic Activity and Vehicle Miles of Travel all increasing, but overall pollution is decreasing.
Decreasing pollution can be attributed to:
Regulations enacted by Clean Air Act
Technology improvements
Economic Factors
One success story example is TVA, which has decreased Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide emissions by over 90%