Clean Air Task Force Statement on EPA Particulate Matter NAAQS Rule

The Clean Air Task Force argues that the EPA's decision to maintain current particulate matter standards ignores scientific evidence and career staff recommendations for a tighter standard (as low as 8 µg/m 3), thereby undermining public health and environmental justice for low-income communities and people of color.

• The Clean Air Task Force asserts that the EPA failed to follow the Clean Air Act's mandate to protect public health with an adequate margin of safety by refusing to strengthen particulate matter standards despite scientific evidence supporting a more protective limit.
• EPA leadership disregarded its own career staff's conclusion that a tighter annual standard as low as 8 µg/m 3 was justified, as harmful health impacts occur at concentrations below the existing 12 µg/m 3 standard.
• The failure to update particulate matter standards creates an environmental justice issue, as low-income populations and people of color disproportionately live near the highways, transportation hubs, and industrial facilities that produce fine particles.

APA

Hashimoto, H. (2020). Clean Air Task Force Statement on EPA Particulate Matter NAAQS Rule. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2020/12/catf-statement-on-epa-particulate-matter-naaqs-rule/

Chicago

Hashimoto, Hayden. Clean Air Task Force Statement on EPA Particulate Matter NAAQS Rule. Clean Air Task Force, 2020. https://www.catf.us/2020/12/catf-statement-on-epa-particulate-matter-naaqs-rule/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Hashimoto |first1=Hayden |title=Clean Air Task Force Statement on EPA Particulate Matter NAAQS Rule |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=7 December 2020 |url=https://www.catf.us/2020/12/catf-statement-on-epa-particulate-matter-naaqs-rule/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{hashimoto2020clean, author = {Hashimoto, Hayden}, title = {{Clean Air Task Force Statement on EPA Particulate Matter NAAQS Rule}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2020}, month = dec, url = {https://www.catf.us/2020/12/catf-statement-on-epa-particulate-matter-naaqs-rule/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }