^®: CRE Regulatory Action of the Week

EPA Retains Current NO 2 and SO 2 Standards
On April 3, 2012, EPA published Federal Register notice that it is retaining the current nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and sulfur dioxide (SO 2) secondary standards to address the direct effects on vegetation of exposure to gaseous oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. This final rule is being issued as required by a consent decree governing the schedule for completion of this review of the air quality criteria and the secondary national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur. In this rule EPA also describes a field pilot program being developed to enhance understanding of the degree of protectiveness that would likely be afforded by a multi-pollutant standard to address deposition-related acidification of sensitive aquatic ecosystems.