Experts Say EPA May Use Recent Study To Justify Tighter Air-Quality Standards

ndustry experts said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent assessment of airborne particulate matter could support the tightening of ambient air particulate-matter standards when the agency reviews those standards later this year.

While the tightening of standards would not specifically target trucks or engine emissions standards, EPA would work with states to determine areas that did not meet the ambient air particulate matter standards, said Dave Ryan, a spokesman for EPA.

However, locations declared “non-attainment areas” by EPA would have to develop plans to reduce particulate matter levels and states could require that trucks operating in “non-attainment areas” be retrofitted with particulate matter filters as part of their plans.