Court Ruling May Encourage Flexible Measures For Pm10 Attainment

摘要

A recent ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit may lead to states adopting flexible regulatory plans for coarse particulate matter (PM10) emissions from agricultural operations across the country, according to environmentalist and industry observers. The ruling comes as the agriculture industry says the PM10 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) is impossible for industry to comply with because dust from the operations is naturally carried over fence lines. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently upheld the stricter 2006 PM10 standard despite challenges from the agriculture industry that strict regulation is not warranted. Relevant document is available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details. Now, an environmentalist source says that a March 5 ruling from the 9th Circuit in Latino Issues Forum, et al. v. EPA, et al. may in effect allow "weaker" PM10 state implementation plans (SIPs), which contain legally enforceable emission reductions mandates to bring areas into attainment with the NAAQS.