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Valley May Face Tougher Air Standards: EPA May Reduce Air-Particle Count Considered to Be Healthy

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Rocky Barker, The Idaho Statesman, Boise, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Dec. 21--Federal air regulators have proposed reducing limits for fine particle pollutants, making it tougher for the Treasure Valley to avoid exceeding federal standards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed Tuesday reducing the level of soot and fine particles considered healthy from an average of 65 micrograms per cubic meter in a 24-hour period, to 35. The tougher standard could force state officials to require residents of the Treasure Valley and four other areas subject to higher air pollution to take additional steps to clean the air.

The Treasure Valley Air Quality Council, established by the Legislature, met for the first time last week to begin efforts to reduce air pollution. The new standards could force the council to consider more extensive measures to avoid federal takeover of air quality management in Ada and Canyon counties.

These could include expansion of vehicle maintenance and inspection programs, limits to field burning or feedlot and dairy development, tougher growth management or alternative fuel use requirements.

"We want to start with the low-hanging fruit," said Mike McGown, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality administrator. "This could mean we have to work further down the list past the low hanging fruit."

The stiffer regulations also could help relieve the stress placed on people with lung ailments and heart disease. EPA estimates 10,000 to 20,000 people die each year because of health problems triggered by fine particles.

A new study released Tuesday by the New York University Medical Center showed a link between fine particles and heart disease. It suggested 60,000 Americans may die annually from heart disease alone caused by air pollution.

An EPA paper released Tuesday said the new rule could reduce premature deaths by 22 percent in nine cities. The new rules, if finalized, will impact more than just Treasure Valley residents, said Bruce Louks, DEQ air quality monitoring manager for the state.

"We'll be looking at four or five airsheds that will be at risk of going into nonattainment," he said.

Industrial groups say the tougher standards will cost billions of dollars and especially hurt small businesses. Recent studies of fine particle pollution health impacts show that risk estimates are lower and less statistically significant than they were back in 1997, when the last standards were set, said Scott Segal, director of the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council.

"This fact calls into question the legal and technical case for altering the current standard," Segal said.

The proposal is not yet final and is open to comment for 90 days. In 1997, EPA proposed setting the standard at 50 and raised it after comments to 65, Louks said.

Contact reporter Rocky Barker at 377-6484.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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