US EPA Proposes Stricter National Air Quality Standard For Particulate Pollution – Science Shows That NJ’s Air Remains Unhealthy To Breath

Murphy DEP Gaslights The Public By Bragging About Meeting Outdated Standard

New EPA Standard & NJ DEP Monitoring Data Shows NJ Air Is Unhealthy

NJ monitoring data is in blue. Red line is EPA’s proposed new standard (I added to DEP chart). I realize that I inserted EPA proposed primary annual standard over NJ DEP’s 24 hour data. This is technically apples to oranges, but I did it on purpose to force DEP to explain how they collect, average and present data. YOUR LUNGS DON’T DO STATISTICS.

[Update: My above graphic juxtaposition of daily and annual monitoring data is consistent with DEP policy, which recognizes the importance of daily peak exposures: (DEP Ozone SIP. p. 6-17):

The US EPA just announced that they were proposing more stringent national air quality standards for fine particulate pollution (NAAQS for PM 2.5, AKA “soot”) to protect public health. EPA announced:

Rule Summary

On January 6, 2023, after carefully reviewing the most recent available scientific evidence and technical information, and consulting with the Agency’s independent scientific advisors, EPA announced its proposed decision to revise the primary (health-based) annual PM_2.5 standard from its current level of 12.0 µg/m³ to within the range of 9.0 to 10.0 µg/m³.

The scientific basis for EPA’s ratchet down was compelling: (@page 11-12, hit this link to read the entire 569 page proposal): (emphases mine)

The EPA is reconsidering the December 2020 decision because the available scientific evidence and technical information indicate that the current standards may not be adequate to protect public health and welfare, as required by the Clean Air Act. […]

The health effects evidence available in this reconsideration, in conjunction with the full body of evidence critically evaluated in the 2019 ISA, supports a causal relationship between long- and short-term exposures and mortality and cardiovascular effects, and the evidence supports a likely to be a causal relationship between long-term exposures and respiratory effects, nervous system effects, and cancer.

The science supporting EPA’s proposed new standard shows that the air in NJ continues to be unsafe to breath.

This is a highly significant EPA decision, yet you would not know any of that from recent communications from the Murphy DEP air quality program (or from reading the NJ press corps or the ‘alerts” from NJ environmental groups, who both seem to have given the Murphy DEP a pass on everything).

Just the opposite: instead of warning the public of unsafe pollution, expanding monitoring, and ratcheting down on polluters, the Murphy DEP is bragging about the good news on NJ’s compliance with EPA air quality standards for fine particulates.

Just 4 days after US EPA announced the need for this stricter standard to protect public health, the Murphy DEP air quality program distributed an email which transmitted DEP’s proposed amendment to the NJ’s Clean Air Act mandated “State Implementation Plan” (SIP) for fine particulates – based on an outdated 2006 standard. The DEP proposal requires EPA approval.

The DEP announcement essentially bragged that NJ was in compliance with EPA national air quality standards for particulate matter:

Proposed State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision: Maintenance of the Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 24-hour 35 µg/m3 NAAQS, Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP)

Date Posted: January 10, 2023

This proposed SIP revision is the second PM2.5 maintenance plan for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard of 35 µg/m³ for both of New Jersey’s multi-state areas (the Northern New Jersey, New York and Connecticut area, and the Southern New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware area) in accordance with the requirements of CAA Section 175A.  This SIP revision demonstrates New Jersey’s continued compliance with the 2006 PM2.5 24-hour 35 µg/m³ NAAQS. 

In seeking EPA approval of a “Limited Maintenance Plan”, the DEP is basically doing the absolute bare minimum that the Clean Air Act legally requires.

Here is the DEP public notice on the proposed SIP revision. Note this:

A public hearing concerning the Department’s proposed SIP revision will be conducted only if requested in writing by January 25, 2023. [..]

Written comments may be submitted by close of business, February 17, 2023. Please email comment(s) as a document attachment to: NJDEP-BAQP@dep.nj.gov and include “PM2.5 Maintenance Plan 2023-1” in the subject line of the e-mail.

Here is the DEP proposed SIP revision.

This is just an initial heads up post – I’ll followup up with a substantive post after I get to read the EPA and DEP documents.

Maybe some intrepid journalist might want to hold DEP accountable and educate the people of NJ about unhealthy air pollution that destroys their health.

Of course, maybe former DEP air pollution staffer Anjuli Ramos now over at Sierra Club might weigh in and hold her former employer accountable. I’m not holding my breath on that.

I will assume that the national clean air focused groups have the resources and will respond to the far more important EPA NAAQS proposal and limit my review to the NJ SIP revision.