Dust is part of summer in Kansas. It trails trucks on dirt roads, settles near tractors in the field and kicks up under the feet of cattle moving through the pasture. But the Environmental Protection Agency, through its Clean Air Act, is taking a second look at dust and how it affects human health.
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards every five years. The standards were last established in 2006 and the EPA is beginning the review and testing process for the 2011 standards.
Earlier this month, the EPA released a report saying that while the science of measuring dust- coarse particulate matter – is still uncertain, but that the agency would be justified in either retaining the current standards or tightening allowable levels.
The EPA regulates all sizes and types of particulate matter as a way to minimize the matter’s impact on human health.
The EPA has concluded that matter smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter- dust included- is directly linked to potential health problems.
“Small particulates less than 10 micrometers in diameter post the greatest problems because they can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream,” the EPA states on its website. “Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart.”
The 2006 standards allow for 150 micrograms per cubic meter in a 24-hour period.
More than 85 state and national agriculture organizations have written the National Governor’s Association explaining the situation and urging the governors to express their concern with the situation, including economic benefits of reducing the number of allowed particulates.
A group of Senators, including Kansas Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, have also signed a letter to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson urging her and the EPA to consider rural America when setting new particulate guidelines.
“Producers could potentially be fined for not meeting the PM standards while still practicing good management practices on their soils,” the letter to Jackson states. “Considering the Administration’s focus on rural America and rural economic development, a proposal such as this could have a negative effect on those very goals. If the EPA publishes a rule that regulates dust at these low levels, excessive dust control measures could be imposed which could slow economic development and impose significant costs to farmers and businesses. Since EPA would be justified in retaining the current standard, then the current standard should be retained.”
The EPA advisory committee met Monday and is set to meet again Aug. 16. While the EPA has not outlined possible changes, some agriculture groups believe the particulate matter standards could be tightened to half the current allowable levels.
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Dust is part of summer in Kansas. It trails trucks on dirt roads, settles near tractors in the field and kicks up under the feet of cattle moving through the pasture. But the Environmental Protection Agency, through its Clean Air Act, is taking a second look at dust and how it affects human health.
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards every five years. The standards were last established in 2006 and the EPA is beginning the review and testing process for the 2011 standards.
Earlier this month, the EPA released a report saying that while the science of measuring dust- coarse particulate matter – is still uncertain, but that the agency would be justified in either retaining the current standards or tightening allowable levels.
The EPA regulates all sizes and types of particulate matter as a way to minimize the matter’s impact on human health.
The EPA has concluded that matter smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter- dust included- is directly linked to potential health problems.
“Small particulates less than 10 micrometers in diameter post the greatest problems because they can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream,” the EPA states on its website. “Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart.”
The 2006 standards allow for 150 micrograms per cubic meter in a 24-hour period.
More than 85 state and national agriculture organizations have written the National Governor’s Association explaining the situation and urging the governors to express their concern with the situation, including economic benefits of reducing the number of allowed particulates.
A group of Senators, including Kansas Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, have also signed a letter to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson urging her and the EPA to consider rural America when setting new particulate guidelines.
“Producers could potentially be fined for not meeting the PM standards while still practicing good management practices on their soils,” the letter to Jackson states. “Considering the Administration’s focus on rural America and rural economic development, a proposal such as this could have a negative effect on those very goals. If the EPA publishes a rule that regulates dust at these low levels, excessive dust control measures could be imposed which could slow economic development and impose significant costs to farmers and businesses. Since EPA would be justified in retaining the current standard, then the current standard should be retained.”
The EPA advisory committee met Monday and is set to meet again Aug. 16. While the EPA has not outlined possible changes, some agriculture groups believe the particulate matter standards could be tightened to half the current allowable levels.
