EPA Sets Stronger Soot (PM2.5) Standards but Ignores the 24-hour Standard That Plagues the Wasatch Front
(Salt Lake City, UT) – Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment applauds the EPA for strengthening the annual health-based national ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter.
In June 2021, EPA announced it would reconsider the December 2020 decision to retain the 2012 standards because the overwhelming scientific evidence and technical information indicated that the standards are not be adequate to protect public health and welfare. UPHE was one of many groups that submitted comments and regularly meet with the EPA to push for a stronger standard that would save billions in health costs, thousands of lives, and improve the health of nearly every American.
“On the one hand this is a bold and scientifically sound move by EPA, and they are to be congratulated for taking this action. But for the majority of Utah residents, that the EPA did not tighten the 24 hr standard means they will receive very little benefit because the episodic pattern of our air pollution is exactly what that 24 hr. standard was meant to address. That standard has remained the same since 2006 and the EPA should have acted long ago to tighten it as well,” said Dr. Brian Moench, President of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment
“Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE) strongly supports EPA for stronger regular soot standard that will benefit families and communities, but we are very disappointed that they didn’t strengthen the 24-hour PM2.5 standard that the Wasatch Front is frequently in violation of or in non-attainment.” said Jonny Vasic, Executive Director of UPHE.