New National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were promulgated for fine particulate matter (FPM) in July 1997. This paper summarizes likely timing for implementing programs to meet these standards, which have a bearing on future modeling/analysis needs. The paper notes technical requirements implied by the nature of the NAAQS, as well as feedback the agency has received concerning modeling/analysis through Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) subcommittee work groups. Conclusions and recommendations drawn from recently completed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-sponsored workshops on modeling and other source attribution techniques are also described. Efforts to respond to needs implied by the NAAQS and feedback are noted by outlining major topics and issues that future guidance on use of modeling and other analyses used for attainment demonstrations will need to address. The paper concludes by highlighting several as yet unmet modeling/analysis needs to support a well-founded strategy for meeting air quality goals for FPM. These are suggested as potential areas for policy-relevant research.
INTRODUCTIONRecently promulgated National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (FPM) require numerous decisions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding modeling and databases needed to identify measures to effectively meet the standards. These decisions need to be made during 1998-2000, to allow state air quality agencies sufficient time to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) to meet the NAAQS. In this paper, we identify some decisions that have been made or are being contemplated. We next note their implications for using air quality simulation models and other analyses to help select successful strategies for meeting the NAAQS. We also identify several recommendations concerning modeling and related analyses made to the EPA through the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) process and in various workshops with members of the scientific and regulatory communities. We then outline a series of topics and issues that must be addressed in applying models and other analyses to show that a strategy will likely result in attainment of the NAAQS. Our paper has two purposes: (1) to encourage dialogue and discussion as we develop modeling/analysis guidance; and (2) to help focus research/analysis efforts into policy-relevant areas at an early date so as to increase chances for future successful SIP revisions for meeting NAAQS for FPM.
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