As the coordinator of the SCDHEC Air Quality Coalition for the Upstate region, Ten at the Top will be hosting an “Air Quality Update” on Wednesday, March 6, from 2-3 pm. This will be a virtual meeting.
EPA is currently reviewing air quality standards for PM2.5 and Ozone. During the session, a representative from EPA will be sharing information about their reviews as well as air quality programs currently underway.
In addition, we will be receiving an update on the 2023 Air Quality numbers for Upstate monitors from the SCDHEC Bureau of Air Quality.
South Carolina is also currently participating in the EPA air quality grant process and a representative from the SC Department of Resilience will share information about the Palmetto Air Quality Coalition.
This online meeting is open to anyone interested in air quality in the Upstate, but online registration is required to receive the login details.
Please see the below press release on the national ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris Administration on Wednesday finalized a significantly stronger air quality standard that will better protect America’s families, workers, and communities from the dangerous and costly health effects of fine particle pollution, also known as soot. By strengthening the annual health-based national ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s updated standard will save lives — preventing up to 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays, yielding up to $46 billion in net health benefits in 2032. For every $1 spent from this action, there could be as much as $77 in human health benefits in 2032.