The paper trail on PM-10
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced that it is proposing PM-10 clean-air status for the San Joaquin Valley.
It is considered a big achievement, especially since PM-10 consists of tiny dust specks and chemical debris that can trigger lung and heart problems.
The good news has been going on for almost two years now, providing a classic look at Clean Air Act bureaucracy in action. Local, state and federal officials need to acknowlege this achievement, provide evidence, ask for public comment and finally announce the proposal to make it final.
The EPA announcement still needs to go into the Federal Register within the next two weeks. Then it needs another 30 days of public comment.
Afterward, there will be yet another announcement of the achievement.
Meanwhile, environmentalists last month filed suit against the EPA, saying the agency is illegally ignoring violations of the standard. There have been some dusty days that the EPA waived, due to high wind. The lawsuit must now wind its way through federal court.
No matter who wins, there will be more triumphant announcements over the same subject for months to come.
Comments:
Clean Air Act bureaucracy is right...
This false declaration of victory over dirty air is nothing more than a cherade EPA and the air district have orchestrated to justify the hundreds of thousands of local dollars being spent on a PR campaign by the District to try and convince us they are doing a good job.
Well, I hope we have to be okay with the air we've got, because EPA is telling us they're done trying to make it better. The feds don't even deny that there have been a bunch of violations of the air pollution limit, they're just saying they don't care anymore because now they are legally allowed to ignore those violations.
Posted by: Fed Up at April 23, 2008 1:30 PM
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