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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. Earlier post.) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

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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. It will also inform the development of strategies for improving air quality.

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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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Study finds changes in the Arctic sea ice cover may be driving changes in atmospheric chemistry

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Bromine then reacts with a gaseous form of mercury, turning it into a pollutant that falls to Earth’s surface. Bromine also can remove ozone from the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the troposphere. Despite ozone’s beneficial role blocking harmful radiation in the stratosphere, ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant.

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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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The California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are collaborating in the $20-million CalNex research project to examine the nexus between air pollution and climate change. The complex roles that ozone and aerosols play in the atmosphere provide examples of such trade-offs.

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EPA, NSF, NOAA, Southern Company and EPRI contribute >$20M to fund SouthEast Atmosphere Study

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SAS is the “umbrella” for a set of other projects: NOMADSS (Nitrogen, Oxidants, Mercury and Aerosol Distributions, Sources and Sinks); SOAS (Southern Oxidant & Aerosol Study); NAAMEX (North American Airborne Mercury Experiment); TROPHONO (TROPospheric HONO); and SENEX (Southeast Nexus). EPA is providing more than $4.3

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

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ABuilding on the proposed stronger ambient air quality standards for ozone ( earlier post ), EPA will develop a strategy for a cleaner and more efficient power sector, with strong emission reduction goals for SO 2 , NO x , mercury and other air toxics.

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