Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, the Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, has expressed her concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent announcement regarding the final particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The EPA plans to narrow the standard from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, a level that Capito believes is unattainable for many areas across the country.

In a statement, Senator Capito stated, "The Biden administration’s punishing air standard finalized today is simply not realistic to meet. To comply with this rule, states will need to limit development across large areas of the country, threatening manufacturing and energy projects, limiting economic growth, and leaving millions of Americans behind to deal with the negative consequences."

Capito also highlighted the importance of considering the sources of PM2.5 emissions, stating, "Given the vast majority of PM2.5 emissions come from non-point sources like wildfires, we urged the administration not to go too far or target American businesses by setting its particulate matter standard too low. It’s disappointing to see the EPA is moving ahead without considering these important factors."

The United States has been recognized for having some of the cleanest air in the world by the World Health Organization. The EPA's own data shows a significant reduction in direct PM2.5 emissions and ambient PM2.5 concentrations over the years. According to their figures, direct emissions of PM2.5 have decreased by 40 percent since 1990, and annual ambient PM2.5 concentrations have decreased by 43 percent between 2000 and 2019.

Senator Capito has been actively involved in addressing air quality standards. In September 2023, she led a group of 22 senators, including every Republican on the EPW Committee, in urging the EPA to rescind its proposed PM2.5 national ambient air quality standard. Additionally, in June 2023, she introduced the National Ambient Air Quality Standards Implementation Act of 2023. This legislation aims to improve the processes for both the EPA to revise current NAAQS and for states to implement the standards.

Capito's legislation seeks to address the historical issues of missed deadlines by the EPA for reviewing standards and providing implementation guidance to states. The proposed act sets a more reasonable and attainable schedule for EPA actions, ensuring that air quality standards are met without imposing overly burdensome regulations.

The EPA's decision to narrow the PM2.5 NAAQS has raised concerns about its impact on American jobs and economic growth. Senator Capito's statements reflect the need for a balanced approach that considers the realities of PM2.5 emissions and their sources while protecting the health and well-being of the American people.