1. PM 2.5 Designation Process and Timeline
Talk briefly about contents of final 8-hour conformity rule. Text of rule released in late June, published in FR on July 1.
Expands upon some of the conformity-related information included in the first phase of the 8-hour implementation guidance.
MWAQC Technical Advisory Committee
July 16, 2004

2. Overview Why Regulate Particle Pollution?
Timeline for PM 2.5 Designations
State Recommendations
EPA Responses
Comparison of 8-Hour and PM 2.5 Timelines

3. Why Regulate Particle Pollution?
Particle pollution is microscopic solid and liquid droplets suspended in air.
Fine particles (PM 2.5) are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
Fine particles become stuck deep in the lungs or enter the bloodstream, causing severe health problems for asthmatics and people with lung or heart disease.
PP can include nitrates, sulfates, organic chemicals, metals, dust, soil, pollen and mold
2 types: coarse and fine
Coarse particles, aka PM 10, have been regulated for a number of years, we currently meet the std.

4. Designation Process Not Yet Complete
Jul 97
Feb 04
Apr 04
Nov 04
Feb 05
Feb 08
Feb 10
PM 2.5 Standard First Promulgated
EPA Responds to Recommendations
Stds challenged by ATA, US Chamber of Commerce, state and business groups
March 2002 remaining legal challenges were rejected
This starts 120 day response period for states to
States Recommend Nonattainment Areas
Final Nonattainment Designations

5. States Recommend 2 Jurisdictions
States recommended that only counties showing PM 2.5 nonattainment be designated:
District of Columbia
Prince George’s
Examples of inappropriate are very strict. Can’t elect a test other than budget just because budget is difficult to meet or uses older planning assumptions.
Inappropriate might be: attained in 1999 (ie have 1999 budget), have maintenance plan budget for In that case 2002 baseline would be better than old 1999 budget.

6. EPA Recommends Additional Areas
EPA evaluated all counties in the Washington MSA to determine whether they contribute to nonattainment in the region
Emission sources
Population density/urbanization
Traffic and commuting patterns
Expected growth
Aside from air quality, EPA also considered meteorology, geography/topography, jurisdictional boundaries, level of control of emission sources
Wanted to consider not only which regions have an air quality problem, but which other regions contribute to it. Found that people move frequently from one jurisdiction to another, and argued that those commercial and traffic patterns make it difficult to hold single counties within the region solely responsible for their AQ problems.
EPA intends to recommend that the entire 8-hour nonattainment area be designated, excluding Calvert County.

7. PM 2.5 Standard First Promulgated
PM 2.5 Planning Horizon
Jul 97
Feb 04
Apr 04
Nov 04
Feb 05
Feb 08
Feb 10
PM 2.5 Standard First Promulgated
Submit SIP
Attainment Date
EPA Responds to Recommendations
Stds challenged by ATA, US Chamber of Commerce, state and business groups
March 2002 remaining legal challenges were rejected
This starts 120 day response period for states to respond to EPA responses, offer new or updated data for EPA to consider.
Implementation Guidance
States Recommend Nonattainment Areas
Final Nonattainment Designations

8. Comparison of Planning Horizons
PM 2.5
8-Hour Ozone
Standard First Promulgated
Jul 97
Jul 97
Nov 04
Final Nonattainment Designations
Apr 04
Feb 05
Designations Become Effective
Jun 04
N/A
Previous Standard Revoked
Jun 05
Stds challenged by ATA, US Chamber of Commerce, state and business groups
March 2002 remaining legal challenges were rejected
This starts 120 day response period for states to respond to EPA responses, offer new or updated data for EPA to consider.
Feb 05
Implementation Guidance Issued
Apr 04
Sep 04
Feb 08
Submit SIP
Apr 07
Feb 10
Attainment Date
Apr 10

9. For More Information State Recommendations EPA Responses Fact Sheet
Health Effects
Timeline