Development of a national emission inventory to support revision of the Particulate National Ambient Air Quality Standard
- E.H. Pechan and Associates, Inc., Durham, NC (United States)
On November 29, 1996 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). The proposed revisions (61 FR 65638) would regulate particles less than or equal to an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns (PM{sub 2.5}). According to the notice issued on November 29, 1996, EPA is proposing to revise the current primary (health-based) PM standards by adding a new annual PM{sub 2.5} standard set at 15 micrograms per cubic meter ({micro}g/m{sup 3}) and a new 24-hour PM{sub 2.5} standard set at 50 {micro}g/m{sup 3}. EPA also proposed to retain the current annual standard for particles less than or equal to 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM{sub 10}) of 50 {micro}g/m{sup 3}. EPA also proposed to revise the current PM{sub 10} 24-hour standard of 150 {micro}g/m{sup 3} by changing the current form of the standard and is soliciting comment on the option of revoking the 24-hour PM{sub 10} standard. EPA has also proposed to revise the current secondary (welfare-based) standards by making them identical to the proposed primary standards. EPA believes that the proposed PM{sub 2.5} and PM{sub 10} standards, combined with the Clean Air Act required regional haze program, will provide protection against the major PM-related welfare effects, including visibility impairment, soiling, and materials damage. This paper describes the development of a national, county-level emissions inventory of primary particulate (PM{sub 10} and PM{sub 2.5}), and precursors to secondary particulate formation--sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}), nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}), volatile organic compounds (VOC), secondary organic aerosols (SOA), and ammonia (NH{sub 3})--for the base year of 1990.
- OSTI ID:
- 351218
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970677--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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