Plan to reduce dust gets negative reviews

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering new rules on air quality for communities across the country, and they're focusing on dust.  Although, the EPA calls it Particulate Matter.

The proposal could change the way farmers have harvested for hundreds of years.  When the combine comes through, it collects the beans and makes dust.

“The wind is your friend,” said farmer Jim Lensch, 50, Linn County.  “A lot of time it keeps it away from you, if it's very still, you look like pigpen in a cloud of dust and it gets hard to see.”

All that dust isn't good for the lungs or the heart, says the Environmental Protection Agency.  That's why it's reviewing air-quality standards and considering clamping down on dust.

The proposal is a big concern across the country, especially for farmers.

“We are trying to make less dust, we're trying to make less passes to make it cost-effective for us,” said Lensch.  “But there are some things that are given, that you have to do.  Harvesting is one of them.  Otherwise, what's the point?”

Dust doesn't just come from fields, gravel roads kick it up too.

“And they come flying down the hill and it's just a cloud,” said Laura Henderson, 50, Linn County.

Henderson lives on a gravel road and constantly fights off dust.

“With the windows closed and the air conditioner on, I could write on my furniture daily, that's how often I dust,” said Henderson.

She could pay to have a chemical sprayed on the road to reduce the dust, but that's an expense she'd rather not have.

The EPA reviews its air-quality rules every five years.  It plans to have restrictions finalized by next February.

Below is an e-mail from the EPA about the latest in this dust-up.

How would EPA regulate the lower standard for coarse PM? It is too early in the review process to know whether or not EPA will revise the coarse particle standard and, therefore, it is too soon in the process to know how a possible revised standard would be implemented.Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to review and if necessary revise national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) every 5 years.  The last review of the PM NAAQS was completed in October 2006.As part of the current review of the PM NAAQS, a second draft Policy Assessment (June 2010) was recently reviewed by the Agency's independent science advisors (the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee or CASAC) and was made available for public review.The Policy Assessment discusses staff conclusions regarding the range of policy options that could be supported by the currently available scientific and technical information for protecting  public health and welfare from exposures to fine (PMCatherine C. Milbourn

It is too early in the review process to know whether or not EPA will revise the coarse particle standard and, therefore, it is too soon in the process to know how a possible revised standard would be implemented.

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to review and if necessary revise national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) every 5 years.  The last review of the PM NAAQS was completed in October 2006.

What are the next steps for the adoption of those lower standards?

As part of the current review of the PM NAAQS, a second draft Policy Assessment (June 2010) was recently reviewed by the Agency's independent science advisors (the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee or CASAC) and was made available for public review.

The Policy Assessment discusses staff conclusions regarding the range of policy options that could be supported by the currently available scientific and technical information for protecting  public health and welfare from exposures to fine (PM

_2.5

) and coarse particle pollution (PM

₁₀

).   EPA will issue a final policy document reflecting consideration of CASAC and public comments in September 2010. The Agency plans to issue a proposed rule in February 2011, and there will be ample opportunity for public comment before EPA takes final action on the PM air quality health standards, currently scheduled for October  2011.

Catherine C. Milbourn

Senior Press Officer