PM-2.5 emissions from agricultural operations
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abstract
On July 16, 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued updated National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Changes have been in the manner in which the 24-hour PM-10 standard is implemented and a standard has been developed to regulate PM-2.5. The revised NAAQS are based on questionable data. EPA estimated (EPA, 1997a) that 88% of PM-2.5 emissions result from agriculture & forestry, and construction & roads. It is logical that State Air Pollution Regulatory Agencies (SAPRAs) will focus on agricultural operations in developing plans to attain compliance. Many agricultural operations will likely be required to install expensive additional controls. This standard will have a significant economic impact on agricultural operations. Agricultural producers are not able to set the price they receive for their commodities. Therefore, they will be unable to pass the cost of compliance on to the consumer and will have to bear the economic burden.