Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Proposed Revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter.

摘要

Based on its review of the air quality criteria and the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) NAAQS for fine particles (generally referring to particles less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (micro m) in diameter)- PM(sub 2.5) to provide requisite protection of public health and welfare, respectively. As has traditionally been done in NAAQS rulemakings, the EPA has conducted a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) to provide the public with illustrative estimates of the potential costs and health and welfare benefits of attaining several alternative PM(sub 2.5) standards based on one possible set of selected control strategies for reducing direct PM and PM precursor emissions. In NAAQS rulemakings, the RIA is prepared for informational purposes only, and the proposed decisions on the PM NAAQS discussed in the proposed rulemaking are not in any way based on consideration of the information or analyses in the RIA. The RIA fulfills the requirements of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and guidelines of the Office of Management and Budgets (OMB) Circular A-4.1 Benefit and cost estimates provided in the RIA are not additive to benefits and costs from other regulations, and the costs and benefits identified in this RIA will not be realized until specific controls are mandated by State Implementation Plans (SIPs) or other federal regulations.