Thursday, June 3, 2010 12:40 PM
EPA Takes On Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
By Margaret Kriz Hobson, NationalJournal.com
The EPA today shifted the way it measures sulfur dioxide emissions, zeroing in on short-term spikes in the air pollutant rather than recording only daily and annual pollution levels. The agency also expanded its monitoring program for sulfur dioxide, which is emitted primarily by power plants and other industrial facilities. "Moving to a one-hour standard and monitoring in the areas with the highest SO2 levels is the most efficient and effective way to protect against sulfur dioxide pollution in the air we breathe," EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement.
Exposure to the pollutant can cause respiratory problems in asthmatics, children, and the elderly. The agency announced that the new standard will improve states' ability to alert the public when SO2 levels are elevated and may affect vulnerable populations. The potential health benefits of the new rule are estimated at $13 billion and $33 billion annually, according to EPA. The cost of implementing the standard is estimated at $1.5 billion.
The new air quality standard limits SO2 levels to 75 parts per billion over a one-hour period. The current EPA requirements, set in 1971, are 140 ppb measured over 24 hours and 30 ppb annually. The new hourly SO2 standard replaces both the daily and annual requirements.
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