| Abstrakt: |
On February 7, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule imposing a stricter limit for the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The annual exposure standard for PM2.5, currently set at 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air, will now be 9 micrograms per cubic meter, marking the first time in over eight years that EPA has strengthened any NAAQS. The rule is predicted to have many health benefits, such as preventing 4,500 premature deaths by 2032, which may particularly affect overburdened communities. On March 15, 2024, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts to discuss the final rule and how it will affect various environmental sectors. Below, we present a transcript of that discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
