The Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with state regulators, recently presented their regulatory priorities for Region 7 at a series of environmental conferences. A distinguishing concern within these conventions was the issue of Compliance with the PM2.5 Standard.
A proposal by the EPA to lower the PM2.5 standard earlier this year was met with deliberation by state agency representatives. Pending the ultimate level decided upon, there is potential for areas in each Region 7 state to grapple with achieving compliance with the reduced standard.
The proposed PM2.5 standard is predicted to significantly influence future development and permitting. Regulatory compliance will start to be assessed against the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 60 days post the final standard’s publication. This is when the influence of air quality impacts concerning the new standard is appraised.
Among the experts shedding light on this issue was Brittany Barrientos of Stinson LLP, who was part of a recent panel discussion. However, the potential impact and the broader implications of these proposed standard changes remains an active field of debate among various stakeholders involved.
As this story develops further, the interplay between environmental regulation, corporate compliance, and industrial development under the looming shadow of the revised PM2.5 standard will continue to evolve and demand attention from legal professionals worldwide.