Ozone and Fine Particle Pollution
Ozone and fine particle pollution cause thousands of premature deaths and illnesses each year. These pollutants also reduce visibility and damage sensitive ecosystems.
EPA is taking an important step to protect public health, help states reduce air pollution, and attain clean air standards. The proposed Transport Rule would improve air quality in the eastern US by reducing power plant emissions from 31 states and the District of Columbia.
This proposal would require significant reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions that cross state lines. These pollutants react in the atmosphere to form fine particles and ground-level ozone and are transported long distances, making it difficult for other states to achieve national clean air standards.
By 2014, the rule and other state and EPA actions would reduce power plant SO2 emissions by 71 percent over 2005 levels. Power plant NOx emissions would drop by 52 percent.
