A proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency could put Arizona and many more regions across the United States in a bureaucratic fiasco, local leaders say.
The agency is expected to reach a decision in August on whether or not to decrease the particulate matter standard as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which could make it harder for cities like Phoenix to meet their requirements.
Particulate matter is defined as a “mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air,” according to the agency.
Specifically, the EPA wants to go from 12 micrograms per cubic meter down to a range between 9 and 10 micrograms per cubic meter. By lowering the number, the agency makes these “nonattainment” areas put together action plans in order to lower the number of pollutants, which could lead to more stringent actions on emissions at the business and consumer levels.
