News Releases from Headquarters›Air and Radiation (OAR)

EPA to Hold Public Hearings in California, Texas and D.C. on Proposed Smog Standards

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three public hearings on the proposed updates to the national air quality standards for ground-level ozone, also known as smog. EPA has proposed to strengthen the standards to a level within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion to better protect Americans' health and the environment, while taking comment on a level down to 60 ppb. The agency estimates that the benefits of meeting the proposed standards will significantly outweigh the costs, preventing asthma attacks, heart attacks, missed school days and premature deaths, among other health effects.

WHAT: Public hearings on proposed updates to national air quality standards for ozone

WHEN: Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, 2015. Each hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m. local time

WHERE:

Jan. 29: Arlington, Texas
Arlington City Hall
101 W. Abram Street
Arlington, Texas, 76010

Jan. 29: Washington
U.S. EPA
William Jefferson Clinton East building, Room 1153
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460

Feb. 2: Sacramento, Calif.
California Air Resources Board
Byron Sher Auditorium
1001 "I" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Note: People attending the hearings in Washington and Sacramento will be required to show valid picture identification to enter the buildings. In Washington, an additional form of ID may be required for people with driver's licenses issued by certain states. See http://www.epa.gov/glo/hearings.html for more information on REAL ID.

Pre-registration for the hearings in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Texas will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27; pre-registration for the hearing in Sacramento, Calif. will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. People wishing to speak may also register in person on the day of the hearing; but may not be guaranteed a specific time slot. EPA will accept written comments on the proposed standards until March 17, 2015. The agency will issue a final rule by Oct. 1, 2015.

More information on the proposal and instructions for submitting written comments: http://www.epa.gov/glo/actions.html