10/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/16/2024 13:10
October 16, 2024
"Reducing sulfur dioxide pollution in the air is critical to protecting health," saidLisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. "Achieving clean air requires that EPA work with Puerto Rico to reduce or eliminate air pollutants that can cause health hazards or illnesses. We invite the public to review this proposal and provide comments by December 2."
The EPA is holding two in-person community information sessions to provide an opportunity for community members to learn more about these proposed actions.
The public can learn more about these proposed EPA actions and how to submit public comment at www.regulations.govand at the link with the public notice.
When the air quality standard set by EPA is not met for a certain air pollutant in an area, the EPA designates the area as "Nonattainment." When the EPA designates an area as Nonattainment for a certain pollutant, the state or territory is required to lower emissions in that area to meet the standards within five years. The state or territory must also create a plan to submit to the EPA that shows how it will meet the standards within five years, known as a revision to a State Implementation Plan, or SIP.
Short-term exposures to sulfur dioxide can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult. People with asthma, particularly children, are sensitive to these effects of SO2. At high concentrations, sulfur oxides can harm trees and plants by damaging foliage and decreasing growth. The largest sources of SO2 emissions are from fossil fuel combustion at power plants and other industrial facilities.
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