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EPA tightens ground-level ozone standard to 70 ppb

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issued its final rule revising the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone to 70 parts per billion (ppb) from 75 ppb to protect public health. Ground-level ozone forms when nitrogen oxides (NO x ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the air. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Obama Administration withdraws proposed rulemaking on strengthened ozone standards

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In a statement released this morning, President Barack Obama said he has requested that US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson withdraw the agency’s draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) rulemaking. The Clean Air Act established two types of national air quality standards.

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EPA awards $6M in research funding to improve air quality models

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $5,959,842 million in research funding to nine institutions to improve air quality models used to simulate ozone, particulate matter (PM), regional haze, air toxics, and emerging pollutants.

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EPA Administrator Outlines Seven Key Themes for Agency in 2010 and Beyond

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EPA will finalize its mobile source GHG rules under the Clean Air Act, and “ provide a framework for continued improvements in that sector.” ( Earlier post. ). Cleaning Up Communities. Improving Air Quality. Improved monitoring, permitting and enforcement will be critical building blocks for air quality improvement.

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California ARB and NOAA Collaborating in $20M Research on Interaction of Air Pollution and Climate Change; One Atmosphere Approach

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These connections arise because in many cases the agents of concern are the same, and in many cases the sources of the agents are the same or intimately connected.For example, surface ozone is both an air pollutant and a greenhouse gas. The complex roles that ozone and aerosols play in the atmosphere provide examples of such trade-offs.