Today, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA, ) published a Federal Implementation Plan to improve air quality in the Detroit metropolitan area by reducing sulfur dioxide emissions ( SO2). The intended result is to achieve cleaner and healthier air for children, the elderly, asthmatics, and everyone in Wayne County. It also means less mist and acid rain that can damage sensitive ecosystems.
“ The EPA's plan to reduce sulfur dioxide levels is especially good news for vulnerable populations and overburdened communities in Detroit and Wayne County ”, commented EPA Region 5 administrator Debra Shore. “ The SO plan2 is an important step forward as EPA and Michigan accelerate our combined efforts to ensure that the metropolitan area is on track to meet federal quality standards for Newer air designed to better protect respiratory and heart health ”.
Under the Clean Air Act, areas that do not meet current federal air quality standards must take steps to reduce emissions of pollutants. In recent years, EPA air quality modeling has shown potential OS problems2 near Zug Island, where U.S. are located. Steel and other industries. New federal plan includes limits on SO emissions2 from U.S. Steel.
Since 2013, when Wayne County failed to meet the 2010 air quality standard for SO2, EPA and Michigan have been working together to reduce emissions from power plants, steel plants, and other local industrial facilities. Require Carmeuse Lime installation to reduce its OS emissions2 and DTE Energy's decision to close your River Rouge and Trenton Channel coal power plants contributed to the reduction of emissions in the area. These measurements have improved Detroit's air quality, and Detroit air monitors have shown OS levels.2 below the norm for six years. The federal plan is expected to further improve Detroit's air quality and ensure that SO concentrations2 throughout the area remain permanently at levels that protect health.
“ EGLE greatly appreciates its association with EPA. Even as this plan was developed, the state has taken aggressive and positive steps to reduce OS emissions.2, and the data shows that these efforts are paying off achieving cleaner and healthier air ”, noted Liesl Clark, director of Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. “ This plan provides us with the regulatory tool we need to request that the region be reclassified as complying with the rules of the Clean Air Act for SO2”.
EPA and EGLE are also collaborating to address other concerns about air quality in southeastern Michigan, including ground-level ozone and emissions from local facilities. The EPA is committed to promoting environmental justice and providing benefits to marginalized communities.
The EPA organized a 45-day public comment period on its proposed plan for June 1. The agency held a virtual public hearing on June 16.
EPA has published fact sheets in English, Spanish and Arabic on its FIP SO website2 from Detroit. For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/mi/detroit-so2-federal-implementation-plan.
Original source can be found here.
