EPA Delays Issuance of 2010 Ozone Standards
On September 16, 2009, EPA announced it would reconsider the 2008 national ambient
air quality standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone. EPA Administrator Lisa P.
Jackson stated that the ozone standards are being reconsidered to ensure that they are
clearly grounded in science, protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, and
are sufficient to protect the environment.
The reconsideration affects both the “primary” ozone standard, designed to protect public
health, and the “secondary” standard, designed to protect the environment. EPA issued
the ozone standards on March 12, 2008, and set both standards at a level of 0.075 parts
per million (ppm).
On January 6, 2010, the agency proposed a primary standard in the range of 60-70 parts
per billion (ppb) and a secondary standard in the range of 7-15 ppm-hours, and plans to
issue a final decision on these standards by July 29, 2011.
EPA will continue to require permitting of new and modified air pollution sources under
the PSD program for the 2008 ozone standards.